Socioeconomic disparities in healthcare utilization for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Am Heart J. 2022 Apr:246:161-165. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2022.01.011. Epub 2022 Jan 28.

Abstract

Background: The impact of the social determinants of health on healthcare utilization for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains incompletely characterized.

Methods: We queried the National Health Interview Survey from 2000-2018 to examine disparities in healthcare utilization metrics by education, income-to-poverty ratio, and health insurance coverage for adults with self-reported ASCVD.

Results: We show that, while education and income-to-poverty ratios demonstrated significant disparities for provider visits and preventive screenings, the largest disparities were noted for health insurance coverage.

Conclusions: These trends suggest that efforts to expand private or government insurance to improve coverage for patients with ASCVD may address healthcare utilization-based disparities.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / therapy
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Humans
  • Income
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Poverty
  • Socioeconomic Factors