Exploring the disparities in health-care outcomes of inpatient diabetic myocardial infarction transfers in non-federal hospitals

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess whether patient transfer demonstrated health-care disparities in patients with myocardial infarction and type 2 diabetes mellitus who had been admitted to non-federal hospitals in 2006. This was a secondary data analyses. Retrospective data was extracted from the 2006 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). Data analysis and management were performed using SPSS version 17.0. Of the 2,774 discharges, 1,684 (67%) were admitted through the emergency room. The primary insurance was Medicare (1,200) (43%). Insurance type influenced whether or not a patient was transferred (p < 0.001). There was a significant disparity between gender and patient insurance (p < 0.001). More males (67%) than females (33%) were admitted, however, more females died than expected (p < 0.001). These results suggested that patients' age, gender, and insurance were the major factors that influenced patient transfer. All patients, irrespective of age, gender, or ethnicity, should be treated equally upon admission.