Cardiac surgery in African Americans.

Retrospective and prospective randomized studies that provide information on the influence of race on the morbidity and mortality of cardiac surgical procedures are reviewed. We intentionally focus our attention on the specific outcomes of these procedures in African Americans because African Americans have a high incidence of all-cause cardiovascular mortality and a high prevalence of a number of risk factors associated with cardiovascular mortality. Furthermore, numerous studies have confirmed that blacks, as a function of race, lack equal access to diagnostic and therapeutic invasive cardiac procedures. Here we use the terms "black" and "African American" interchangeably. In this context we interpret both terms to refer to Americans of African descent. Similarly, we use the term "white" or "Caucasian" interchangeably to refer to Americans of European descent.