Exploring Differences in Intraoperative Medication Use Between African American and Non-Hispanic White Patients...

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Health Services Research
• Health Equity

Background:

• Racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare are well-documented.
• Understanding variations in intraoperative medication use is crucial for equitable anesthesia care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate racial differences in intraoperative medication administration between African American and non-Hispanic White patients undergoing general anesthesia for noncardiothoracic, nonobstetric surgeries.
• To identify specific medications where disparities in use may exist.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational cohort study utilizing electronic health records from a large academic health system (January 2018 - August 2019).
• Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was employed to balance covariates between racial groups.
• Regression analyses assessed the impact of race on the use of opioid analgesia, midazolam, sugammadex, antihypotensive, and antihypertensive drugs.

Main Results:

• African American patients were more likely to receive midazolam premedication (aOR=1.17) and antihypertensive drugs (aOR=1.15) compared to non-Hispanic White patients.
• African American patients were less likely to receive antihypotensive drugs (aOR=0.85) than non-Hispanic White patients.
• No significant differences were observed in the total dose of opioid analgesia or the use of sugammadex between the groups.

Conclusions:

• This study reveals significant differences in intraoperative anesthesia medication delivery based on race.
• Further research is necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving these disparities and their potential impact on patient outcomes.