Top news in CV health care disparities: COVID-19, participation in trials and more

Healio and Cardiology Today have aggregated a list of the most-read news on racial disparities in CV health and care.

Readers were most interested in the impact of COVID-19 on health care inequity; minority participation in CV outcome trials; race parity in the health care workforce; and more.

COVID-19 CVD registry highlights racial/ethnic disparities, risk in obesity

CVD complications in patients with COVID-19 are less common than were believed, but COVID-19 complications disproportionately affect patients with obesity and Black and Hispanic individuals, according to new registry data. Read more

Minority participation remains low in U.S. diabetes CV outcome trials

Diabetes CV outcome trials are enrolling a lower percentage of minority participants than what is reflective of United States’ population, according to a presenter at the virtual Cardiometabolic Health Congress. Read more

AHA issues call to action to address systemic racism in US

In an American Heart Association presidential advisory, the association issued a call to action with steps to be taken to address structural racism as a driver of health disparities. Read more

ASCVD hospitalizations elevated in Black adults with diabetes

A new study highlights a significant cumulative increase in the rate of hospitalizations for atherosclerotic CVD in Black adults with diabetes. Read more

Racial disparities in CV outcomes evident among pregnant, postpartum Black women

Among pregnant and postpartum women, Black women remained at increased risk for mortality and stroke compared with white women despite trends for improved CV outcomes, researchers reported. Read more

Reform, training needed to increase race parity in health care workforce

Race parity in the science and health care workforce remains a challenge, but opportunities for reform exist at the trainee, faculty and leadership level, according to a speaker at the virtual American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. Read more

Race alone may not explain ASCVD risk in familial hypercholesterolemia

Race alone may not explain disparities in risk for atherosclerotic CVD among patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, according to data presented at the virtual National Lipid Association Scientific Sessions. Read more

In-hospital mortality down in acute MI, cardiac arrest, but disparities in care remain

Since 2012, in-hospital death among patients with acute MI and cardiac arrest fell, but procedural disparities and hospitalization characteristics remain, particularly among Black patients, a speaker reported. Read more

Pandemic underscores racial disparities in amputation; paradigm shift needed

In an exclusive commentary for Healio, Bryan T. Fisher Sr., MD, chief of vascular surgery and co-director of limb preservation at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville and medical director of the Outpatient Procedure Center at The Surgical Clinic in Nashville, wrote that treatment delays for peripheral artery disease due to the COVID-19 pandemic could exacerbate racial disparities in amputation. Read more

More than 20% of racial disparities in hypertension related to treatment intensification

At least one-fifth of racial disparities in hypertension treatment may stem from racial inequities in treatment intensification, according to a study presented at the virtual American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. Read more