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Ann Thorac Surg 2003;76:S1370-S1376
© 2003 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Supplement: understanding disparities in cardiovascular and thoracic surgical outcomes in African-Americans

Impact of renal disease in cardiovascular surgery: emphasis on the African-American patient

^a Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
^b The Emory Clinic, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

^* Address reprint requests to Dr Cooper, Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, 550 Peachtree St. NE, MOT 6th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA
e-mail: william_cooper{at}emoryhealthcare.org

Presented at the symposium on Understanding Disparities in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgical Outcomes in African Americans, San Diego, CA, Jan 30, 2003.

Cardiovascular disease remains a significant source of morbidity and mortality for patients with kidney disease. Coincident with the development of chronic renal failure, patients typically manifest a systemic vasculopathy often involving the cardiovascular system. The renal failure patient is also plagued by multiple comorbid conditions that may adversely affect cardiovascular outcomes. Consistent with the national trend of increasing numbers of patients requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT), patients requiring invasive cardiovascular procedures are also on the incline. The morbidity and mortality related to these procedures has remained high despite significant advances in delivery and maintenance of care. Is the African-American patient with renal failure unique in terms of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality? Numerous studies have documented racial differences in access to invasive cardiovascular procedures, even after controlling for multiple physiologic risk factors and socioeconomic and sociocultural factors. Studies have also shown higher morbidity and lower survival for African-American patients after cardiac procedures. In this high-risk population these same issues perhaps would persist. The following paper will examine the current status of cardiovascular disease in the renal failure patient with emphasis on the African-American patient population.