Disparities in Care and Mortality Among Homeless Adults Hospitalized for Cardiovascular Conditions

Importance Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death among homeless adults, with mortality rates that are substantially higher than in the general population. It is unknown whether differences in hospitalization-related care contribute to these disparities in cardiovascular outcomes. Objective To evaluate differences in intensity of care and mortality between homeless and nonhomeless individuals hospitalized for cardiovascular conditions (ie, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiac arrest, or heart failure). Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cross-sectional study included all hospitalizations for cardiovascular conditions among homeless adults (n = 24 890) and nonhomeless adults (n = 1 827 900) 18 years or older in New York, Massachusetts, and Florida from January 1, 2010, to September 30, 2015. Statistical analysis was performed from February 6 to July 16, 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures Risk-standardized diagnostic and therapeutic procedure rates and in-hospital mortality rates. Results Of the 1 852 790 total hospitalizations for cardiovascular conditions across 525 hospitals, 24 890 occurred among patients who were homeless (11 452 women and 13 438 men; mean [SD] age, 65.1 [14.8] years) and 1 827 900 occurred among patients who were not homeless (850 660 women and 977 240 men; mean [SD] age, 72.1 [14.6] years). Most hospitalizations among homeless individuals were primarily concentrated among 11 hospitals. Homeless adults were more likely than nonhomeless adults to be black (38.6% vs 15.6%) and insured by Medicaid (49.3% vs 8.5%). After accounting for differences in demographics (age, sex, and race/ethnicity), insurance payer, and clinical comorbidities, homeless adults hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction were less likely to undergo coronary angiography compared with nonhomeless adults (39.5% vs 70.9%; P < .001), percutaneous coronary intervention (24.8% vs 47.4%; P < .001), and coronary artery bypass graft (2.5% vs 7.0%; P < .001). Among adults hospitalized with stroke, those who were homeless were less likely than nonhomeless individuals to undergo cerebral angiography (2.9% vs 9.5%; P < .001) but were as likely to receive thrombolytic therapy (4.8% vs 5.2%; P = .28). In the cardiac arrest cohort, homeless adults were less likely than nonhomeless adults to undergo coronary angiography (10.1% vs 17.6%; P < .001) and percutaneous coronary intervention (0.0% vs 4.7%; P < .001). Risk-standardized mortality was higher for homeless persons with ST-elevation myocardial infarction compared with nonhomeless persons (8.3% vs 6.2%; P = .04). Mortality rates were also higher for homeless persons than for nonhomeless persons hospitalized with stroke (8.9% vs 6.3%; P < .001) or cardiac arrest (76.1% vs 57.4%; P < .001) but did not differ for heart failure (1.6% vs 1.6%; P = .83). Conclusions and Relevance There are significant disparities in in-hospital care and mortality between homeless and nonhomeless adults with cardiovascular conditions. There is a need for public health and policy efforts to support hospitals that care for homeless persons to reduce disparities in hospital-based care and improve health outcomes for this population. This cross-sectional study evaluates differences in intensity of care and mortality between homeless and nonhomeless individuals hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiac arrest, or heart failure. Question Do patterns of care and mortality differ between homeless and nonhomeless adults hospitalized for acute cardiovascular conditions? Findings In this cross-sectional study of 24 890 hospitalizations for cardiovascular conditions among homeless adults and 1 827 900 hospitalizations for cardiovascular conditions among nonhomeless adults in New York, Massachusetts, and Florida between 2010 and 2015, homeless individuals hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction were significantly less likely to undergo coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery compared with nonhomeless adults and had higher mortality rates for ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Homeless persons hospitalized for cardiac arrest or stroke also received less procedural care and had higher mortality rates. Meaning There is a need for public health and policy efforts to support hospitals that care for homeless persons, to reduce disparities in hospital-based care, and to improve health outcomes for this population.