Distinct patterns develop along the lines of socially defined groups of persons when resources in a society are distributed unevenly, typically through allocation rules. In determining who gets access to social goods in society, factors such as power, religion, kinship, status, race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, and class all play a part. Social inequality typically relates to a lack of result equality, but it can also refer to a lack of opportunity access equity. Unfortunately, these societal inequities and/or disparities are not unaffected by health care. The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) recently highlighted these health care disparities in interventional cardiology as a key area of concern for 2020–2021.
