Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyResearch article
Racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic inequities in catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation
- Generalized Estimating Equations analysis of Medicare Inpatient and Outpatient data files
- ZIP code-level analysis
- 2016–2019
Authors' conclusion
There are significant inequities in utilization of AF ablation, associated with racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic differences. Inequitable utilization in marginalized groups of patients may generate and propagate inequities in health.
Study context
- Population
- Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF)
- Comparison
- ZIP code-level racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic composition and ZIP code-level catheter ablation rates among patients with AF
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
AF ablation per 10% increase in the percentage of patients dual-eligible for Medicaid in a ZIP code
fewer patients per 10,000 underwent AF ablation
275
P
P = .0003
Further findings
AF ablation per 10% increase in the percentage of Black patients in a ZIP code
- fewer underwent AF ablation
- 618
- P
- P < 0.0001
- adjusted for dual-eligible status
AF ablation per 10% increase in the percentage of Hispanic patients in a ZIP code
- fewer underwent AF ablation
- 430
- P
- P = 0.002
- adjusted for dual-eligible status
Original publication
Racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic inequities in catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm. Published 25 January 2026. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.01.030
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it