Disparities in Level of Amputation Among Minorities: Implications for Improved Preventative Care

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between race and level of amputation and to discuss the implications if a disparity was found. Methods From the 2003 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 80 845 (weighted) discharges with a diagnosis of vascular disease and black or white race were evaluated for a disparity in level of amputation. Level of amputation was categorized using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification procedure codes into above-knee and below-knee amputation. SPSS 15.0 complex samples software (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois) was used for univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. Results Bivariate (p Conclusions Black race is significantly more associated with above-knee amputation when compared to white race. The consequences of higher-level evaluation could lend to disparities in overall health between the black and white races.