Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Utilization of Total Knee Arthroplasty among Older Women

Summary Objective To evaluate racial and ethnic disparities in utilization of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in relation to demographic, health, and socioeconomic status variables. Design Prospective study of 102,767 Women's Health Initiative postmenopausal women initially aged 50–79, examining utilization rates of primary TKA between non-Hispanic Black/African American, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic/Latina women (hereafter referred to as Black, White, and Hispanic). A total of 8,942 Black, 3,405 Hispanic, and 90,420 White women with linked Medicare claims data were followed until time of TKA, death, or transition from fee-for-service coverage. Absolute disparities were determined using utilization rates by racial/ethnic group and relative disparities quantified using multivariable hazards models in adjusting for age, arthritis, joint pain, mobility disability, body mass index, number of comorbidities, income, education, neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES), and geographic region. Results TKA utilization was higher among White women (10.7/1,000 person-years) compared to Black (8.5/1,000 person-years) and Hispanic women (7.6/1,000 person-years). Among women with health indicators for TKA including diagnosis of arthritis, moderate to severe joint pain, and mobility disability, Black and Hispanic women were significantly less likely to undergo TKA after adjusting for age [Black: HR (95% confidence interval) = 0.70 (0.63–0.79); Hispanic: HR = 0.58 (0.44–0.77)]. Adjustment for SES modestly attenuated the measured disparity, but significant differences remained [Black: HR = 0.75 (0.67–0.89); Hispanic: HR = 0.65 (0.47–0.89)]. Conclusions Compared to White women, Black and Hispanic women were significantly less likely to undergo TKA after considering need and appropriateness for TKA and SES. Further investigation into personal-level and provider-level factors that may explain these disparities is warranted.