Race and sex differences in the use of cardiac procedures for patients with ischemic heart disease in Maryland.

This study analyzes administrative data from the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission to compare differences by race and sex in the use of cardiac procedures performed in hospitals in Maryland. African Americans discharged from Maryland hospitals were less likely than whites to have received cardiac procedures after controlling for age, insurance status, and the number of comorbidities (e.g., hypertension and diabetes). Overall, the general pattern of care suggests that African American women may receive high-technology cardiac treatment significantly less often than all other race and sex categories.