Summary
Black Americans experience the highest prevalence of heart failure (HF) and the worst clinical outcomes of any racial or ethnic group, but little is known about end-of-life care for this population. Researchers compare treatment intensity between Black and white older adults with HF near the end of life. They compared four common measures of treatment intensity at the end of life (number of hospital admissions, receipt of care in an intensive care unit (ICU), utilization of life support, and whether the decedent died in a hospital) between Black and white HF patients, controlling for demographic, social, and health characteristics.
Findings: Racial identity was not significantly associated with the number of hospital admissions or admission to an ICU in the last 24 months of life. However, Black HF patients were more likely to spend time on life support and more likely to die in a hospital than white HF patients. Thoughtful and consistent engagement with HF patients regarding treatment preferences is an important step in addressing inequities.