Heart Disease Health Center

Race and Heart Attack Treatment

Vital Information:

• Researchers say that among patients who have had a heart attack, blacks are significantly less likely to get treatment to reopen their heart's blocked blood vessels.
• The study's authors say they are not sure why this difference exists. They add that they don't think it is a matter of racism but suggest it could be more difficult to tell whether black patients are eligible for this type of treatment.
• The researchers stress that more study is needed. Until more is learned, they urge patients to educate themselves about heart disease and ask their doctors about their treatment.