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Black vascular disease patients more likely to die

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A study published in a medical journal says that Black Americans that are afflicted with vascular disease are more likely to die from the disease than any other ethnic group. The February issue of Journal is Vascular Surgery says that by the time a Black patient suffering from vascular disease sees a surgeon, the disease is far more advanced. Described as “poor circulation, the onset of the affliction can cause other medical problems, such as heart disease, artery disease and a stroke. The study examined more than 76,000 patients, of which nine percent were Black. According to the CT Post, the study not only found that Black patients are more likely to die from vascular illness, but to get damaging vascular disease at an earlier age than other populations. In addition, compared with all ethnic groups, Black patients were more likely to have insulin-dependent diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure and end-stage renal disease; less often medicated with statins after surgery; less often insured and more likely to be a cigarette smoker. Also problematic was that Black patients did not see a vascular surgeon until their disease was much farther advanced. Most patients who are referred to a vascular surgeon can have their disease managed without surgery, especially if they start going to the vascular surgeon in time. However, the study found that by the time the African American patients saw a surgeon, they had more severe carotid disease (in the neck artery that brings oxygen to the brain), more severe abdominal aortic artery disease (which, if it ruptures, has a high risk of death) and much worse peripheral artery disease, with 73 percent suffering from the most extreme form, known as critical limb ischemia. PAD and CLI can lead to amputation.

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