AJPH
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow purchase articles
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Right arrow Get other permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Woodard, L. D.
Right arrow Articles by Petersen, L. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Woodard, L. D.
Right arrow Articles by Petersen, L. A.
Related Collections
Right arrow Quality of Care
Right arrow Other Race/Ethnicity
Right arrow Cardiovascular Disease
December 2004, Vol 94, No. 12 | American Journal of Public Health 2112-2117
© 2004 American Public Health Association

RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

Is Lipid-Lowering Therapy Underused by African Americans at High Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Within the VA Health Care System?

LeChauncy D. Woodard, MD, MPH, Nancy R. Kressin, PhD and Laura A. Petersen, MD, MPH

LeChauncy D. Woodard and Laura A. Petersen are with the Houston Center for Quality of Care and Utilization Studies, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Section for Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex. Nancy R. Kressin is with the Center for Health Quality, Outcomes and Economic Research, Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Mass, and the Health Services Department, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Mass.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to LeChauncy D. Woodard, MD, MPH, Health Services Research and Development (152), Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 (e-mail: lwoodard{at}bcm.tmc.edu).

Objectives. We examined whether racial differences exist in cholesterol monitoring, use of lipid-lowering agents, and achievement of guideline-recommended low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease.

Methods. We reviewed charts for 1045 African American and White patients with coronary heart disease at 5 Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals.

Results. Lipid levels were obtained in 67.0% of patients. Whites and African Americans had similar screening rates and mean lipid levels. Among the 544 ideal candidates for therapy, rates of treatment and achievement of target LDL levels were similar.

Conclusions. We found no disparities in cholesterol management. This absence of disparities may be the result of VA quality improvement initiatives or prescription coverage through the VA health care system.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 CJASNHome page
S. W. Gao, D. K. Oliver, N. Das, F. P. Hurst, K. L. Lentine, L. Y. Agodoa, E. S. Sawyers, and K. C. Abbott
Assessment of Racial Disparities in Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3 and 4 Care in the Department of Defense Health System
Clin. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., March 1, 2008; 3(2): 442 - 449.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Med Care Res RevHome page
A. M. Davis, L. M. Vinci, T. M. Okwuosa, A. R. Chase, and E. S. Huang
Cardiovascular Health Disparities: A Systematic Review of Health Care Interventions
Med Care Res Rev, October 1, 2007; 64(5_suppl): 29S - 100S.
[Abstract] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2004 by the American Public Health Association