Recent Temporal Trends and Geographic Distribution of Cardiac Procedures in Alberta

Regional differences in coronary revascularization procedures and outcomes: a nationwide 11-year observational study

Aims

The study investigated whether regional differences in choice of coronary revascularization affected outcomes in Sweden.

Methods and results

We conducted a prospective nationwide study of outcome in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, n = 47 065) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, n = 140 945) from 2001 through 2011, tracked for a median of 5 years. During this period, the proportion of CABG in revascularization procedures decreased nationwide from an average of 38% to 18%e. Three-vessel disease and left main stem coronary artery stenosis were more common among CABG patients than in PCI patients. In both males and females, all-cause mortality was higher in CABG patients than in PCI patients, while repeat PCI was performed more frequently in the PCI group. CABG proportions in 21 counties ranged from 13% to 42% in females and males. The combined outcomes of repeat revascularization, non-fatal acute myocardial infarction, and death during the tracking period was recorded in 151 936 patients without ST-elevation myocardial infarction after PCI (n = 37 820, 36%) and CABG (n = 18 903, 40%). The multivariable adjusted risk of combined outcomes was higher after both PCI and CABG in both females and males in the three quartiles of counties with a smaller proportion of CABG than in the quartile of counties with the highest proportion of CABG. Similar patterns persisted after including only mortality in the analyses.

Conclusion

There are subgroups of patients who have prognostic benefits of CABG in addition to symptomatic improvement that is well documented with both PCI and CABG.

Incidence, secular trends, and outcomes of cardiac surgery in Aboriginal peoples

BACKGROUND

Canada's Aboriginal people experience a disproportionate burden of comorbid illnesses predisposing them to higher rates of atherosclerotic disease. We set out to investigate secular rates of cardiovascular surgery (CVSx) and postsurgical outcomes in Aboriginals compared with non-Aboriginals.

METHODS

All patients undergoing CVSx in Manitoba, Canada from 1995-2007 (N =12,170 [Aboriginal, 574, 4.7%; non-Aboriginal, 11,596, 95.3%]) were included in our study cohort. Race was self-identified. Age- and sex-adjusted incidence were determined using 2001 and 2006 census data. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to determine the association between race and the outcomes of death, infections, and a composite of adverse events.

RESULTS

CVSx rates were significantly lower in Aboriginals compared with non-Aboriginals (all CVSx, 63.6 vs 97.7 per 10,000 population; coronary artery bypass grafting only, 46.2 vs 71.9 per 10,000 population, respectively). The lower CVSx rates were most pronounced among Aboriginals residing in urban areas (21.0 vs 78.0 per 10,000). Postoperatively, Aboriginals experienced significantly higher odds of infections (odds ratio [OR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-2.34; P = 0.008), in particular pneumonia (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.58-3.19; P < 0.0001). There was no increase in risk of death after surgery (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.63-2.08; P = 0.6) or the composite outcome (OR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.66-1.52; P = 1.0) compared with non-Aboriginals.

CONCLUSIONS

Aboriginal peoples, particularly in the urban setting, are considerably less likely to undergo CVSx. When they do, they have postoperative mortality similar to that of non-Aboriginals. Our findings suggest an urban racial disparity in access to CVSx.