Trends in race-based differences in door-to-balloon times.

I n 2004, our group reported that black patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were more likely to experience delays in reperfusion than white patients, primarily owing to poorer performance of hospitals with a disproportionate representation of black patients. Since that initial observation, several high-profile initiatives have sought to improve national performance on door-to-balloon (D2B) times. Accordingly, we analyzed data reported by hospitals to the Quality Improvement Organization Inpatient Clinical Data Warehouse for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Reporting Hospital Quality Data for Annual Payment Update (RHQDAPU) program to determine whether racial disparities in D2B times have attenuated over time.