BACKGROUND: Treatment-seeking delays for heart failure (HF) symptoms are significantly high. However, earlier studies did not closely examine race as a characteristic that could potentially influence delay times. The purpose of this study was (1) to describe racial differences in treatment-seeking delays for HF symptoms and (2) to identify racial differences in hospital readmission rates, functional status, and total length of stay. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective chart review of all patients admitted with HF at a Veterans Administration facility was conducted. The study sample consisted of 753 patients: 456 Caucasians (60.6%), 220 African Americans (29.2%), 41 Asians (5.4%), and 36 Hispanics (4.8%). The average prehospital delay time was 2.9 +/- 0.7 days. Mean delay times were significantly longer for African Americans than for Caucasians, Asians, and Hispanics (P =.019). African Americans also had significantly higher readmission rates (P =.001) and lower functional status (higher New York Heart Association functional class) (P =.034). There were no significant racial differences in total length of stay for HF admissions. CONCLUSION: The current study supports that racial differences exist in treatment-seeking behaviors for HF symptoms, hospital readmission rates, and functional status. A better understanding of treatment-seeking behaviors of HF patients with different racial characteristics may be key to early recognition and prevention of complications in this high-risk population; it may be beneficial in identifying patients at risk for treatment delays and potentially poorer outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Treatment-seeking delays for heart failure (HF) symptoms are significantly high. However, earlier studies did not closely examine race as a characteristic that could potentially influence delay times. The purpose of this study was (1) to describe racial differences in treatment-seeking delays for HF symptoms and (2) to identify racial differences in hospital readmission rates, functional status, and total length of stay. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective chart review of all patients admitted with HF at a Veterans Administration facility was conducted. The study sample consisted of 753 patients: 456 Caucasians (60.6%), 220 African Americans (29.2%), 41 Asians (5.4%), and 36 Hispanics (4.8%). The average prehospital delay time was 2.9 +/- 0.7 days. Mean delay times were significantly longer for African Americans than for Caucasians, Asians, and Hispanics (P =.019). African Americans also had significantly higher readmission rates (P =.001) and lower functional status (higher New York Heart Association functional class) (P =.034). There were no significant racial differences in total length of stay for HF admissions. CONCLUSION: The current study supports that racial differences exist in treatment-seeking behaviors for HF symptoms, hospital readmission rates, and functional status. A better understanding of treatment-seeking behaviors of HF patients with different racial characteristics may be key to early recognition and prevention of complications in this high-risk population; it may be beneficial in identifying patients at risk for treatment delays and potentially poorer outcomes.
Authors: Jia-Rong Wu; Terry A Lennie; Marla J De Jong; Susan K Frazier; Seongkum Heo; Misook L Chung; Debra K Moser Journal: J Card Fail Date: 2009-12-11 Impact factor: 5.712
Authors: Chad Darling; Jane S Saczynski; David D McManus; Darleen Lessard; Frederick A Spencer; Robert J Goldberg Journal: Heart Lung Date: 2013-03-06 Impact factor: 2.210
Authors: Raegan W Durant; Qiana L Brown; Andrea L Cherrington; Lynn J Andreae; Claudia M Hardy; Isabel C Scarinci Journal: Heart Lung Date: 2012-08-21 Impact factor: 2.210
Authors: Somnath Saha; Michele Freeman; Joahd Toure; Kimberly M Tippens; Christine Weeks; Said Ibrahim Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2008-02-27 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Lesley H Curtis; Melissa A Greiner; Bradley G Hammill; Judith M Kramer; David J Whellan; Kevin A Schulman; Adrian F Hernandez Journal: Arch Intern Med Date: 2008-12-08