Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Management of Postdural Puncture Headache With Epidural Blood Patch for Obstetric Patients in New York State.

Importance: Characterizing and addressing racial and ethnic disparities in peripartum pain assessment and treatment is a national priority.

Objective: To evaluate the association of race and ethnicity with the provision and timing of an epidural blood patch (EBP) for management of postdural puncture headache in obstetric patients.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study used New York State hospital discharge records from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2016, from mothers 15 to 49 years of age with a postdural puncture headache after neuraxial analgesia or anesthesia for childbirth.