Disparities Persist in Cardiac Surgery Outcomes for Black Patients, Study Finds

Despite advancements in cardiovascular care, Black patients face significantly higher mortality and complication rates after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) than white patients, according to a recent study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2024 meeting. Researchers revealed that Black patients are 22% more likely to die in the hospital following CABG and experience a higher incidence of complications, including cardiac arrest, underscoring ongoing racial disparities in U.S. healthcare.

The study analyzed data from over 1 million CABG patients in the U.S. between 2016 and 2021, revealing stark contrasts in outcomes across racial groups. While 2.4% of white patients died in the hospital after CABG, the mortality rate rose to 3.2% among Black patients. The research also highlighted that Black patients were generally younger at the time of surgery—63 years on average, compared to 77 years for white patients—and more frequently had underlying conditions such as heart failure. Furthermore, the data showed Black patients had longer hospital stays, averaging nearly two additional days, and incurred substantially higher hospital costs compared to their white counterparts.

The implications of these findings are significant for healthcare providers, policymakers, and patients alike. Lead author Dr. Vinicius Moreira emphasized that although cardiovascular advancements like minimally invasive procedures and mechanical circulatory support have improved life expectancy, these benefits are not reaching Black patients equitably. This gap in care access and outcomes suggests that modern cardiac interventions are less accessible to minority patients, particularly Black individuals, even when clinically indicated.

Addressing these disparities is critical to achieving equitable healthcare outcomes. The study authors propose several strategies to reduce the racial gap in cardiac surgery outcomes. These include targeted preventive measures from perioperative care teams to reduce complications among at-risk patients, optimized health evaluations before surgery, and enhanced access to healthcare services for Black patients and other underserved groups. Policymakers are urged to address systemic issues such as limited access to preventive screening and the obesity epidemic, which disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic populations and contributes to adverse cardiovascular health outcomes.

This research highlights the necessity for continued efforts toward healthcare equity, calling on government agencies, health systems, and medical professionals to address the structural and social determinants contributing to these persistent disparities.