PATTERNS OF VASCULAR-DISEASE IN BLACKS AND WHITES

Differences between blacks and whites with regard to their affliction with vascular diseases are widely accepted. The purpose of the present study was to examine the demographic characteristics of hospitalized patients who had one of several vascular surgical procedures or who we re discharged with a vascular related diagnosis in order to compare th e relative frequency and relationship of these diagnoses and procedure s between the two racial groups. Data regarding race, gender, and age were taken from two sources: the 520-bed regional medical center hospi tal in North Carolina and the National Inpatient Profile (NIP), which is representative of patients admitted to short-term, nonfederal hospi tals. In both the regional hospital data and the national data blacks are underrepresented among patients having carotid endarterectomy, abd ominal aortic aneurysm surgery, and coronary artery bypass grafting. C onversely, blacks are overrepresented among patients admitted for cere brovascular accident, hypertensive heart and hypertensive renal diseas e, and lower extremity amputation. While one explanation for the diffe ring patterns of vascular disease in whites and in blacks is that ther e is a genetically based difference in the two groups, there are impor tant weaknesses in this interpretation. The differences may be explain ed by differing access to medical care, as well as by other complex so cioeconomic factors. Prospective, population-based studies of the popu lations at risk may be required for definitive answer to whether a tru e difference exists.