Bias in allocation of HF therapies low, but clinicians appear to judge women more harshly

Women represent less than one-fourth of heart transplant and VAD recipients in the US. In this study, Dr. Khadijah Breathett and collaborators reveal how bias may contribute to delays in care and inequitable allocation of advanced therapies nationally. Compared to men presenting with identical health histories and social support networks, women, particularly African American women, are judged more harshly, with clinicians raising concerns about women's appearances and social support systems. The full study was published in Open JAMA Network, July 21, 2020.