Sarwat I. Chaudhry|Jeph Herrin|Christopher Phillips|Javed Butler|Sandip Mukerjhee|Jaime Murillo|Anekwe Onwuanyi|Todd B. Seto|John A. Spertus|Harlan M. Krumholz
Racial Disparities in Health Literacy and Access to Care Among Patients With Heart Failure
previous work shown higher frequency hospitalizations among black heart failure patients relative white heart failure patients sought determine whether racial differences exist health literacy access outpatient medical care identify factors associated differenceswe evaluated data 1464 heart failure patients 644 black 820 white health literacy assessed using rapid estimate adult literacy medicinerevised ie realmr access care assessed participants selfreportblack race strongly associated worse health literacy measures poor access care unadjusted analyses adjusting demographics noncardiac comorbidity social support insurance status socioeconomic status income education strongest associations seen race health literacy 213 95 ci 146 310 absence medical home 176 119261 cost deterrent seeking health care 155 107 223our findings highlight important racial differences health literacy access care exist among patients heart failure differences persist even adjustment broad range potential mediators including educational attainment income insurance status