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Racial Disparities In Adherence To Cardiovascular Medications Among The Elderly In Medicare: Three Empirical Essays, Mustafa Hussein Muhammad Hussein

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

This dissertation sought to explore the relatively understudied area of racial disparities in adherence to cardiovascular medication regimens among the elderly. Black and Hispanic seniors are well documented to have lower rates of adherence to their prescribed cardiovascular medications, relative to their white counterparts. This disproportionately lower adherence places these minority groups at higher risk for worse cardiovascular prognosis and premature cardiovascular death. The Medicare Program, which covers healthcare predominantly for elderly Americans, offers an interesting laboratory to study these disparities and their response to policy changes. Using nationally representative data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey on white, black, …