Utilization of joint arthroplasty: racial and ethnic disparities in the Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

Studies within the Veterans Administration health care system have been very useful in identifying the existence of racial and ethnic disparities with regard to patient utilization of hip and knee joint arthroplasty. Existing studies have focused on three factors: estimates of joint arthroplasty utilization,postoperative outcomes, and patient-related variables (eg, expectations of and familiarity with the procedure, religious beliefs). Although Veterans Administration-based studies have produced helpful data, these data are limited because the populations studied are not representative of the larger US population. Specifically, studies from the Veterans Administration health care system are composed of a predominantly male patient demographic;in addition, patients are more likely to have lower income and education levels than the US population as a whole.