Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Perceived Health Status Among Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

Introduction Understanding health outcomes among people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is crucial for improving treatment strategies and patient quality of life. This study investigated racial and ethnic disparities in perceived health status among non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White adults with CVD. Methods The study had a retrospective cross-sectional design and used data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey spanning 8 calendar years (2014-2021). The study population consisted of adults diagnosed with various CVDs. We used ordinal logistic regression models adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, CVD severity, comorbidities, and health care expenditures to assess racial and ethnic differences in perceived health status. Results Among the 11,715 (weighted frequency, 15,431,283) adults with CVD, we observed significant differences in perceived health status across racial and ethnic cohorts. The unadjusted analysis showed that non-Hispanic Black adults had significantly higher odds than non-Hispanic White adults of perceiving their health as poorer (odds ratio [OR]= 1.89; 95% CI, 1.74-2.07; P < .001), with a similar observation among Hispanic adults (OR = 2.05; 95% CI, 1.85-2.26; P < .001). Although female sex, higher education, and better income had protective effects on perceived health status independent of race, we found significant racial and ethnic differences in the effect of older age, physical and cognitive limitations, and health insurance status on perceived health status. Conclusion This study revealed substantial racial disparities in perceived health status among adults with CVD, with notable differences in the effects of predictive factors. Addressing these disparities requires targeted interventions to improve health care access and enhance socioeconomic conditions tailored to the needs and experiences of racial and ethnic populations.