Irregular Care: Racial Inequities in the Management of Cardiac Rhythm Disorders

Structural racism and classism leads to many of the social determinants of health (SDoH) that cause disparities in cardiovascular (CVD) care, such as unequal preventative care, heart arrythmia treatment, and research inclusion. Interpersonal racism, including unconscious bias, worsens disproportionate CVD care, and is also a stand-alone factor for this health inequity. Underrepresented minority (URM) patients – particularly Black/African American individuals – are less likely to receive, be referred to, or counseled about potentially life-saving interventional and electrophysiological cardiology procedures, even when similarly indicated and with similar socioeconomic status and access as White patients. Therefore, both SDoH factors and health care professional (HCP) biases must be addressed to help resolve CVD health care disparities and their impact on minority populations.

This CME Outfitters podcast will focus on identifying inequitable processes and pathways in the prevalence, screening, diagnosis, and management of CVD/arrythmia disorders in URM populations; how HCPs can develop solutions to recognize and address biases; and how to integrate best practices and guidelines to account for structural racism and barriers in the prevention, care, and management of medically underserved patients with CVD.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this CME/CE activity, participants should be able to:
- Assess the role of systemic inequities and interpersonal racism in the disparate care of cardiac rhythm disorders.
- Identify factors in and strategies to mitigate disproportionate care for minority patients with cardiac arrythmias.