Malpractice News: Heart Attack Care Often Delayed for the Poor

Malpractice News: According to a study published in the September 22, 2008 edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine, Medicaid patients and economically-disadvantaged Americans are more likely delay going to the hospital to seek medical care for a possible heart attack than affluent patients.

The researchers reviewed the medical records for over 6,700 patients who suffered a heart attack 1993 and 2002. The researchers determined that 36 percent of the patients waited fewer than two hours before seeking hospital care. 42 percent delayed going to the hospital for 2-12 hours, and 22 percent waited between 12 and 72 hours before going to the hospital.

After accounting for factors such as age, gender, health insurance status, prior history of hypertension and/or diabetes, distance to hospital, and race, the researchers found that Medicaid and low income patients were more likely to delay as long as 72 hours before going to the hospital. Patients living in low-income neighborhoods were 46 percent more likely to wait before seeking medical care.

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