Abstracts » Health

Racial differences in the use of cardiac catheterization after acute myocardial infarction

Article Abstract:

Black heart attack patients who are treated by a black doctor are no more likely to have cardiac catheterization then black patients treated by a white doctor. Black heart attack patients as a group are less likely to have cardiac catheterization than whites, but a study of 35,676 white patients and 4,039 black patients found this was not caused by the race of the doctor.

Research, Demographic aspects, Health, Health and race, Ethnic groups, Cardiac catheterization, Heart catheterization

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Blood transfusion in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction

Article Abstract:

A blood transfusion can lower the mortality rate in elderly heart attack patients who have anemia, according to a study of 78,974 patients. A blood transfusion should be given to all elderly heart attack patients who have a hematocrit of 30% or less.

Health aspects, Patient outcomes, Anemia, Blood transfusion

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Do "America's Best Hospitals" perform better for acute myocardial infarction?

Article Abstract:

Heart attack patients admitted to hospitals ranked high on a U.S. News & World Report annual list have lower mortality rates because these hospitals are more likely to use aspirin and beta blockers. Researchers compared mortality rates among elderly heart attack patients at three different types of hospitals: those whose cardiology services ranked high on the America's Best Hospitals list, similarly-equipped hospitals not ranked as high, and all other hospitals. Although 30-day mortality rates were lowest at the high-ranking hospitals, these hospitals were also more likely to use aspirin and beta blockers. After adjusting for this factor, mortality rates were approximately the same.

Evaluation, Hospitals, Statistics

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