Theories explaining racial differences in the utilization of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for cerebrovascular disease.
Despite a higher risk of stroke, blacks are less likely than whites to receive the invasive procedures that are used to diagnose and treat cerebrovascular disease, particularly carotid endarterectomy. Explanations for the lower rate of procedural use include racial bias, racial differences in pathophysiology of cerebrovascular disease, affordability, and racial variation in patient decisions regarding care. Studies consistently indicate that blacks are less likely to have severe atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid arteries, reducing their likelihood of being appropriate candidates for carotid endarterectomy. Although ability to pay does not explain the observed variation in use of carotid endarterectomy, it may influence the evaluation process prior to hospitalization. A racial difference in patients' decisions about health care for cerebrovascular disease has never been investigated; it should be a topic of future studies.
Duke Scholars
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- United States
- Socioeconomic Factors
- Risk Factors
- Race Relations
- Patient Acceptance of Health Care
- Humans
- Health Services Accessibility
- Health Policy & Services
- Health Care Costs
- Endarterectomy, Carotid
Citation
Published In
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- United States
- Socioeconomic Factors
- Risk Factors
- Race Relations
- Patient Acceptance of Health Care
- Humans
- Health Services Accessibility
- Health Policy & Services
- Health Care Costs
- Endarterectomy, Carotid