Black patients in the U.S. are more likely to receive perioperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusions for two of three frequently performed surgical procedures, posing a risk for favorable outcomes, a study by Dr. Feng Qian, researcher and assistant professor at the University at Albany SUNY School of Public Health, published in BMC Health Services Research. The study, “Racial disparities in the use of blood transfusion in major surgery”, cites three common surgeries – coronary artery bypass surgery, total hip replacement, and colectomy. The findings indicate that black patients, most often younger and under-insured, had more comorbidities and were more likely to receive RBC transfusions for two of the three procedures examined.