J Natl Med Assoc
-
Black patients develop heart failure at younger ages and have worse outcomes such as higher mortality rates compared to other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Despite significant recent improvements in heart failure medical therapy, these worse outcomes have persisted. ⋯ Strategic interventions considering social and structural determinants of health, addressing structural inequalities/ bias, implementation of quality improvement programs, early diagnosis and prevention are critically needed to bridge the racial/ ethnic disparities gap and improve longevity of Black patients with heart failure. In this review, we propose evidence-based solutions that provide a framework for the primary care physician addressing these challenges to engender equity in treatment allocation and improve outcomes for all patients with heart failure.