RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 African Americans and Whites Are Equally Appropriate to be Considered for Total Joint Arthroplasty JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP jrheum.081214 DO 10.3899/jrheum.081214 A1 Dennis C. Ang A1 Nighat Tahir A1 Hufza Hanif A1 Yan Tong A1 Said A. Ibrahim YR 2009 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2009/07/13/jrheum.081214.abstract AB Objective Ethnic disparities in the use of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) may be attributed to differences in the clinical appropriateness to undergo TJA. We sought to determine if racial differences in clinical appropriateness for surgery existed among a sample of primary care clinic patients with moderately to severely symptomatic knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA). Methods We used the cross-sectional data of 684 patients who are potential candidates for TJA. Using a validated TJA appropriateness algorithm, an appropriateness factor was derived using the following variables: age (50–70 or > 70 yrs), Charlson comorbidity (≤ 1 or > 1), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index (WOMAC) pain and physical function, and adequacy of previous medical management. We used logistic regression to estimate the association of race with the dichotomous outcome of clinical appropriateness for TJA consideration. Results Sample consisted of 425 (62%) whites and 260 (38%) African Americans; 532 (78%) had knee OA and 153 (22%) had hip OA. The mean age was 64 ± 9 years and the mean body mass index was 33.6 ± 8 kg/m2. The mean overall WOMAC score was 56 ± 14 (range 30–96), suggesting moderately severe OA. There were no significant racial group differences (p = 0.3) in the proportions of those deemed clinically appropriate for TJA. After controlling for potential confounders, race was not a predictor of clinical appropriateness for TJA (odds ratio 1.2, 95% confidence interval 0.8–1.8, p = 0.3). Conclusion African Americans and whites were equally appropriate to be considered for TJA.