Racial differences in 30-day mortality for pulmonary embolism.

Publication/Presentation Date

12-1-2006

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies reported a higher incidence of in-hospital mortality for Black patients who had pulmonary embolism than for White patients. We used a large statewide database to compare 30-day mortality (defined as death within 30 days from the date of latest hospital admission) for Black and White patients who were hospitalized because of pulmonary embolism.

METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 15531 discharged patients who had been treated for pulmonary embolism at 186 Pennsylvania hospitals between January 2000 and November 2002. We used random-effects logistic regression to model 30-day mortality for Black and White patients, and adjusted for patient demographic and clinical characteristics.

RESULTS: The unadjusted 30-day mortality rates were 9.0% for White patients, 10.3% for Blacks, and 10.9% for patients of other or unknown race. When adjusted for severity of disease using a validated clinical prognostic model for pulmonary embolism, Black patients had 30% higher odds of 30-day mortality compared with White patients at the same site (adjusted odds ratio = 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1,1.6). Neither insurance status nor hospital volume was a significant predictor of 30-day mortality.

CONCLUSION: Black patients who had pulmonary embolism had significantly higher odds of 30-day mortality compared with White patients.

Volume

96

Issue

12

First Page

2161

Last Page

2164

ISSN

1541-0048

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

17077409

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

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