Background: We analyzed trends in the utilization of coronary angiography and revascularization - including percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) - related to the first AMI and explored potential educational inequalities in such procedures.
Methods and results: All first AMI patients aged 35-89, hospitalized during 2001-2009 were retrieved from 'The Cardiovascular Disease in Norway' project. Information on education was obtained from The Norwegian Education Database. Gender and age group-specific trends in coronary procedures were analyzed using Joinpoint regression. Educational inequalities were explored using multivariable Poisson regression and reported as incidence rate ratios (IRR). A total of 104 836 patients (37.3% women) were included. Revascularization rates increased on average 9.0% and 15.4% per year among younger (35-64years) and older (65-89years) men. Corresponding increases among women were 5.6% and 16.6%. Compared to patients with primary education only, those with secondary and tertiary education had 8% (IRR=1.08, 95% CI; 1.06-1.10) and 12% (IRR=1.12, 95% CI; 1.09-1.14) higher revascularization rates. Educational inequalities were entirely driven by educational differences in receiving coronary angiography (IRR=1.10, 95% CI; 1.08-1.11 for secondary versus primary and IRR=1.14, 95% CI; 1.12-1.16 for tertiary versus primary education level.) Among diagnosed patients, no educational differences were observed in coronary revascularization rates.
Conclusion: Revascularization rates increased whereas educational differences in revascularization decreased among AMI patients in Norway during 2001-2009. Lower coronary revascularization rates among patients with low education were explained by educational differences in receiving coronary angiography.
Keywords: AMI; CABG; Coronary angiography; Educational inequalities; Epidemiology; PCI.
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