Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Use of Helicopter Transport After Severe Trauma in the US
Authors' conclusion
This study found that racial and ethnic minority patients, particularly Asian and Black patients, and notably those treated at level I teaching hospitals were less likely to receive airlift services compared with White patients.
Study context
- Population
- Patients older than 15 years with severe injury requiring urgent surgery or intensive care unit (ICU) admission at level I or II trauma centers with helicopter service, US
- Participants
- 341,286 participants · 458 trauma centers
- Exposure
- Helicopter transport use by race and ethnicity
- Outcome
- Primary mode of transport: helicopter ambulance vs ground ambulance
Methodological detailsNational Trauma Data Bank 2016–2022
- National Trauma Data Bank 2016–2022
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Helicopter transport
Each group vs whiteAdjusted relative risk (95% CI)P value
Asian
0.38(0.30–0.48)
P < 0.001Black
0.42(0.36–0.49)
P < 0.001Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | Helicopter | Ground | aRR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopter transport, teaching hospitals (subgroup)Asian vs White | 0.29 (0.21–0.40) | P < 0.001 | |||
| Helicopter transport, teaching hospitals (subgroup)Black vs White | 0.41 (0.33–0.50) | P < 0.001 | |||
| Helicopter transport, level I trauma centers (subgroup)Asian vs White | 0.33 (0.24–0.44) | P < 0.001 | |||
| Helicopter transport, level I trauma centers (subgroup)Black vs White | 0.40 (0.34–0.49) | P < 0.001 | |||
| Mortality, helicopter vs ground transport | 37.7% | 42.6% | 0.87 (0.85–0.89) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.20.5125Adjusted relative risk (log scale) |
Original publication
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Use of Helicopter Transport After Severe Trauma in the US. JAMA Surg. Published 1 March 2025. doi:10.
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