Are there socioeconomic differences in myocardial infarction event rates and fatality among patients with angina pectoris?

Risk perception of cardiovascular diseases among individuals with hypertension in rural Malaysia

Objective

Despite various efforts, hypertension remains poorly controlled, thus allowing cardiovascular disease (CVD) to impact the health burden worldwide. Patients' perception of risk may contribute to this scenario. The present study aims to assess the level of risk perception among individuals with hypertension in rural Malaysia.

Methods

This is a community-based study conducted among adults between 2010 and 2011 among a rural population in Raub, Pahang, Malaysia. Blood pressure was measured after 5 min of rest. Measurement was done twice and the average was recorded. Cardiovascular risk perception score (CvRPS) was derived using the Modified Risk and Health Behavior Questionnaire. Higher CvRPS indicates the respondent perceives a poorer prognostic outlook.

Results

A total of 383 respondents who have hypertension participated in this study. The mean age of respondents was 62±10.6 years; men 63.1±9.6 years, women 61.2±11.1 years (p>0.05). Among hypertensives, those who were not on medication had significantly lower CvRPS compared with those who were on medications (115.9±22.1vs 120.9±23.5, p=0.036); those who were not aware of their hypertensive status had significantly lower CvRPS compared with respondents who were aware about their hypertension (116.7±22.5vs 121.7±21.3, p=0.029) and those with uncontrolled hypertension had significantly lower CvRPS compared with those whose blood pressure was controlled (118.2±22.2vs 128.8±25.8, p=0.009).

Conclusions

Our study shows that respondents who were not on medications, unaware of their hypertension status and those who had uncontrolled hypertension tended to underestimate (lower CvRPS) their risk for CVD. Improving their CvPRS through a concerted health education may lead to better therapeutic behaviour and outcomes.

Trends of relative and absolute socioeconomic equity in access to coronary revascularisations in 1995-2010 in Finland: a register study

Background

Resources for coronary revascularisations have increased substantially since the early 1990s in Finland. At the same time, ischaemic heart disease (IHD) mortality has decreased markedly. This study aims to examine how these changes have influenced trends in absolute and relative differences between socioeconomic groups in revascularisations and age group differences in them using IHD mortality as a proxy for need.

Methods

Hospital Discharge Register data on revascularisations among Finns aged 45–84 in 1995–2010 were individually linked to population registers to obtain socio-demographic data. We measured absolute and relative income group differences in revascularisation and IHD mortality with slope index of inequality (SII) and concentration index (C), and relative equity taking need for care into account with horizontal inequity index (HII).

Results

The supply of procedures doubled during the years. Socioeconomic distribution of revascularisations was in absolute and relative terms equal in 1995 (Men: SII = −12, C = −0.00; Women, SII = −30, C = −0.03), but differences favouring low-income groups emerged by 2010 (M: SII = −340, C = −0.08; W: SII = −195, C = −0.14). IHD mortality decreased markedly, but absolute and relative differences favouring the better-off existed throughout study years. Absolute differences decreased somewhat (M: SII = −760 in 1995, SII = −681 in 2010; W: SII = −318 in 1995, SII = −211 in 2010), but relative differences increased significantly (M: C = −0.14 in 1995, C = −0.26 in 2010; W: C = −0.15 in 1995, C = −0.25 in 2010). HII was greater than zero in each year indicating inequity favouring the better-off. HII increased from 0.15 to 0.18 among men and from 0.10 to 0.12 among women. We found significant and increasing age group differences in HII.

Conclusions

Despite large increase in supply of revascularisations and decrease in IHD mortality, there is still marked socioeconomic inequity in revascularisations in Finland. However, since changes in absolute distributions of both supply and need for coronary care have favoured low-income groups, absolute inequity can be claimed to have decreased although it cannot be quantified numerically.

Disentangling the relative importance of different socioeconomic resources for myocardial infarction incidence and survival: a longitudinal study of over 300,000 Finnish adults

BACKGROUND

Lower socioeconomic position (SEP) is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) incidence and mortality, but the relative importance of different socioeconomic resources at different stages of the disease remains unclear.

METHODS

A nationally representative register-based sample of 40- to 60-year-old Finnish men and women in 1995 (n= 302 885) were followed up for MI incidence and mortality in 1996-2007. We compared the effects of education, occupation, income and wealth on first MI incidence, first-day and long-term fatality. Cox's proportional hazards regression and logistic regression models were estimated adjusting for SEP covariates simultaneously to assess independent effects.

RESULTS

Fully adjusted models showed greatest relative inequalities of MI incidence by wealth in both sexes, with an increased risk also associated with manual occupations. Education was a significant predictor of incidence in men. Low income was associated with a greater risk of death on the day of MI incidence [odds ratio (OR) = 1.40 in men and 1.95 in women when comparing lowest and highest income quintiles], and in men, with long-term fatality [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.74]. Wealth contributed to inequalities in first-day fatality in men and in long-term fatality in both sexes.

CONCLUSION

The results show that different socioeconomic resources have diverse effects on the disease process and add new evidence on the significant association of wealth with heart disease onset and fatality. Targeting those with the least resources could improve survival in MI patients and help reduce social inequalities in coronary heart disease mortality.

Are there socioeconomic differences in outcomes of coronary revascularizations--a register-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Earlier studies have reported socioeconomic differences in coronary heart disease incidence and mortality and in coronary treatment, but less is known about outcomes of care. We examined trends in income group differences in outcomes of coronary revascularizations among Finnish residents in 1998-2010.

METHODS

First revascularizations for 45-84-year-old Finns were extracted from the Hospital Discharge Register in 1998-2009 and followed until 31 December 2010. Income was individually linked to them and adjusted for family size. We examined the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), coronary mortality and re-revascularization. We calculated age-standardized rates with direct method and Cox regression models.

RESULTS

Altogether 69 076 men and 27 498 women underwent revascularization during the study period. Among men [women] in the 1998 cohort, 41% [35%] suffered MACE during 29 days after the operation and 30% [28%] in the 2009 cohort. Myocardial infarction mortality within 1 year was 2% among both genders in both cohorts. Among men [women] 9% [14%] underwent revascularization within 1 year after the operation in 1998 and 12% [12%] in 2009. Controlling for age, co-morbidities, year, previous infarction and disease severity, an inverse income gradient was found in MACE incidence within 29 days and in coronary mortality. The excess MACE risk was 1.39 and excess mortality risk over 1.70 among both genders in the lowest income quintile. All income group differences remained stable from 1998 to 2010.

CONCLUSIONS

In health care, more attention should be paid to prevention of adverse outcomes among persons with low socioeconomic position undergoing revascularization.

Amputations and socioeconomic position among persons with diabetes mellitus, a population-based register study

OBJECTIVE

Low socioeconomic position is a known health risk. Our study aims to evaluate the association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and lower limb amputations among persons with diabetes mellitus.

DESIGN

Population-based register study.

SETTING

Finland, nationwide individual-level data.

PARTICIPANTS

All persons in Finland with any record of diabetes in the national health and population registers from 1991 to 2007 (FinDM II database).

METHODS

Three outcome indicators were measured: the incidence of first major amputation, the ratio of first minor/major amputations and the 2-year survival with preserved leg after the first minor amputation. SEP was measured using income fifths. The data were analysed using Poisson and Cox regression as well as age-standardised ratios.

RESULTS

The risk ratio of the first major amputation in the lowest SEP group was 2.16 (95% CI 1.95 to 2.38) times higher than the risk in the highest SEP group (p<0.001). The incidence of first major amputation decreased by more than 50% in all SEP groups from 1993 to 2007, but there was a stronger relative decrease in the highest compared with the lowest SEP group (p=0.0053). Likewise, a clear gradient was detected in the ratio of first minor/major amputations: the higher the SEP group, the higher the ratio. After the first minor amputation, the 2-year and 10-year amputation-free survival rates were 55.8% and 9.3% in the lowest and 78.9% and 32.3% in the highest SEP group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

According to all indicators used, lower SEP was associated with worse outcomes in the population with diabetes. Greater attention should be paid to prevention of diabetes complications, adherence to treatment guidelines and access to the established pathways for early expert assessment when diabetic complications arise, with a special attention to patients from lower SEP groups.

Socioeconomic differences in mortality amenable to health care among Finnish adults 1992-2003: 12 year follow up using individual level linked population register data

BACKGROUND

Finland decentralised its universal healthcare system and introduced market reforms in the 1990s. Despite a commitment to equity, previous studies have identified persistent socio-economic inequities in healthcare, with patterns of service use that are more pro-rich than in most other European countries. To examine whether similar socio-economic patterning existed for mortality amenable to intervention in primary or specialist care, we investigated trends in amenable mortality by income group from 1992-2003.

METHODS

We analysed trends in all cause, total disease and mortality amenable to health care using individual level data from the National Causes of Death Register for those aged 25 to 74 years in 1992-2003. These data were linked to sociodemographic data for 1990-2002 from population registers using unique personal identifiers. We examined trends in causes of death amenable to intervention in primary or specialist healthcare by income quintiles.

RESULTS

Between 1992 and 2003, amenable mortality fell from 93 to 64 per 100,000 in men and 74 to 54 per 100,000 in women, an average annual decrease in amenable mortality of 3.6% and 3.1% respectively. Over this period, all cause mortality declined less, by 2.8% in men and 2.5% in women. By 2002-2003, amenable mortality among men in the highest income group had halved, but the socioeconomic gradient had increased as amenable mortality reduced at a significantly slower rate for men and women in the lowest income quintile. Compared to men and women in the highest income quintile, the risk ratio for mortality amenable to primary care had increased to 14.0 and 20.5 respectively, and to 8.8 and 9.36 for mortality amenable to specialist care.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate an increasing socioeconomic gradient in mortality amenable to intervention in primary and specialist care. This is consistent with the existing evidence of inequity in healthcare use in Finland and provides supporting evidence of changes in the socioeconomic gradient in health service use and in important outcomes. The potential adverse effect of healthcare reform on timely access to effective care for people on low incomes provides a plausible explanation that deserves further attention.

Socioeconomic status and risk of acute myocardial infarction. Population-based case-control study

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Socioeconomic status is associated with cardiovascular mortality. The aims of this study were to investigate the association between socioeconomic status and its various indicators and the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to determine whether any association found is independent of the presence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs).

METHODS

Study cases were matched with controls by age, sex and year of recruitment. Cases were recruited from a hospital register and controls from cross-sectional studies of the general population. The socioeconomic status was determined from educational level and social class, as indicated by occupation. Self-reported data were collected on the presence of CVRFs.

RESULTS

The study included 1369 cases and controls. Both educational level and social class influenced AMI risk. Among non-manual workers, there was an inverse linear relationship between educational level and AMI risk independent of CVRFs: compared with university educated individuals, the odds ratio (OR) for an AMI among those with a high school education was 1.63 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-2.3), and among those with an elementary school education, 3.88 (95% CI, 2.79-5.39). No association between educational level and AMI risk was observed in manual workers. However, the AMI risk was higher in manual workers than non-manual university educated workers: in those with an elementary school education, the increased risk (OR=2.09; 95% CI, 1.59-2.75) was independent of CVRFs.

CONCLUSIONS

An association was found between socioeconomic status and AMI risk. The AMI risk was greatest in individuals with only an elementary school education, irrespective of CVRFs and social class, as indicated by occupation.

Neighbourhood socioeconomics status predicts non-cardiovascular mortality in cardiac patients with access to universal health care

BACKGROUND

Although the Canadian health care system provides essential services to all residents, evidence suggests that socioeconomic gradients in disease outcomes still persist. The main objective of our study was to investigate whether mortality, from cardiovascular disease or other causes, varies by neighbourhood socioeconomic gradients in patients accessing the healthcare system for cardiovascular disease management.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

A cohort of 485 patients with angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and neighbourhood socioeconomic status information was followed for 13.3 years. Survival analyses were completed with adjustment for potentially confounding risk factors. There were 64 cases of cardiovascular mortality and 66 deaths from non-cardiovascular chronic diseases. No socioeconomic differentials in cardiovascular mortality were observed. However, lower neighbourhood employment, education, and median family income did predict an increased risk of mortality from non-cardiovascular chronic diseases. For each quintile decrease in neighbourhood socioeconomic status, non-cardiovascular mortality risk rose by 21-30%. Covariate-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for non-cardiovascular mortality were 1.21 (1.02-1.42), 1.21 (1.01-1.46), and 1.30 (1.06-1.60), for each quintile decrease in neighbourhood education, employment, and income, respectively. These patterns were primarily attributable to mortality from cancer. Estimated risks for mortality from cancer rose by 42% and 62% for each one quintile decrease in neighbourhood median income and employment rate, respectively. Although only baseline clinical information was collected and patient-level socioeconomic data were not available, our results suggest that environmental socioeconomic factors have a significant impact on CAD patient survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite public health care access, CAD patients who reside in lower-socioeconomic neighbourhoods show increased vulnerability to non-cardiovascular chronic disease mortality, particularly in the domain of cancer. These findings prompt further research exploring mechanisms of neighbourhood effects on health, and ways they may be ameliorated.

Cardiovascular disease knowledge and risk perception among underserved individuals at increased risk of cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor awareness and knowledge are believed to be prerequisites for adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine knowledge of CVD risk factors and risk perception among individuals with high CVD risk.

METHODS

The sample consisted of inner city and rural medically underserved patients at high risk of CVD. To be eligible for the trial, subjects were required to have a 10% or greater CVD risk on the Framingham risk score. Knowledge of CVD was assessed with a 29-item questionnaire created for this study. Subjects also rated their perception of risk as compared with individuals of their own sex and age.

RESULTS

Data were collected from 465 subjects (mean [SD] age, 60.5 [10.1] years; mean [SD] Framingham risk score, 17.3% [9.5%]). The mean (SD) CVD knowledge score was 63.7% (14.6%), and mean (SD) level of risk perception was 0.35 (1.4). Men and women had similar Framingham risk scores, but women perceived their risk to be significantly higher than that of their male counterparts. Women were also more knowledgeable than men about CVD. Urban participants had significantly higher actual risks than did their rural counterparts (18.2% [10.7%] vs 16.0% [8.9%], respectively; P = .01) but were significantly less knowledgeable about heart disease and also perceived their risk to be lower.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate a low perception of risk and cardiovascular knowledge especially among men and inner city residents. Innovative educational strategies are needed to increase risk factor knowledge and awareness among at-risk individuals.

Income and recurrent events after a coronary event in women

Strong evidence supports the existence of a social gradient in poor prognosis in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). However, knowledge regarding what factors may explain this relationship is limited. We aimed to analyze in women CHD patients the association between personal income and recurrent events and to determine whether lifestyle, biological and psychosocial factors contribute to the explanation of this relationship. Altogether 188 women hospitalized for a cardiac event were assessed for personal income, demographic factors, lipids, inflammatory markers, cortisol, creatinine, lifestyle and psychosocial factors, i.e. alcohol consumption, smoking habits, body-mass index, depressive symptoms, anxiety, vital exhaustion, availability of social interaction, hostility and anger-related characteristics and were followed for cardiovascular death and recurrent acute myocardial infarction (AMI). During the 6-year follow-up 18 patients deceased and 31 experienced cardiovascular death or non-fatal AMI. After adjustment for confounders, patients with medium and high income had lower risk for recurrent events relative to those with low income (HR (95% CI): 0.38 (0.15-0.97) and 0.39 (0.17-0.93), respectively). Controlling for smoking reduced by 12.8% the risk for recurrent events associated with high versus low income, while adjusting for depression decreased the risk for middle versus low income by 13.5%. Anger symptoms explained 16.7% of the risk for recurrent events associated with middle versus low income and 10.2% of the risk for high versus low income. We suggest that in women with CHD low income is associated with recurrent events and that smoking, depressive symptomatology and anger symptoms may contribute to the explanation of this relationship.

Multilevel modeling of regional variation in equity in health care

BACKGROUND

The use of a concentration index is recommended to estimate socioeconomic equity in health and health services. Methods for the analysis of concentration indices have been developed in several studies. However, these methods do not take into consideration clustering within areas, which is necessary in a comprehensive study of regional variations in equity.

OBJECTIVES

The study aims to develop a statistical method to assess variations in socioeconomic inequities in the use of health services in relation to need in different regions.

METHODS

Concentration index methods were developed further and the advantages of multilevel modeling were exploited. As an empirical example we analyzed revascularizations in 2001-2003 among the Finnish population.

RESULTS

The average inequity indices for the income distribution of revascularizations in Finland obtained with multilevel and standard regression modeling were comparable, but confidence intervals were smaller with multilevel modeling. Inequity indices for different areas estimated using multilevel modeling were more conservative and had smaller confidence intervals than indices estimated using the standard approach.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed approach is an efficient way of estimating regional variations in the socioeconomic equity of health care use. It enables the inclusion of need in the model and takes into account the varying need for services in different population groups and areas. In addition, the advantages of using multilevel modeling to estimate indices include the possibility to take into account dependence between observations within regions and to overcome the problems associated with random error in small regions.

Coronary heart disease among diabetic and nondiabetic people - socioeconomic differences in incidence, prognosis and mortality

OBJECTIVE

To investigate coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity and mortality and their patterning by socioeconomic status among diabetic and nondiabetic individuals in Finland.

METHODS

All diabetic persons aged 35-74 years entitled to free anti-diabetic medication were drawn from the 1991-1996 national health insurance files along with nondiabetic referents. Outcome events for up to 6 years of follow-up, corresponding to 418,987 and 867,813 person-years in diabetic and nondiabetic people, respectively, were identified from national health insurance, hospital discharge and causes of death registers using personal identification codes.

RESULTS

The annual CHD incidence for diabetic women and men was 2.7% and 3.7%, respectively, corresponding to relative risks of 3.55 (95% CI: 3.43-3.67) and 2.64 (95% CI: 2.56-2.72) compared to nondiabetic persons. The impact of diabetes on CHD mortality was greater, with relative death rates of 6.04 and 3.42 for women and men, respectively. CHD mortality and incidence displayed systematic socioeconomic trends with higher rates among worse-off diabetic and nondiabetic people, although gradients were generally steeper for nondiabetics. In the diabetic population, socioeconomic differences were rather similar for sudden CHD deaths and nonfatal CHD incident cases. For both genders, socioeconomic differences in mortality after CHD diagnosis were small in both diabetic and nondiabetic persons, except for the lowest compared to the highest income quintile.

CONCLUSIONS

Socioeconomic CHD mortality differences among diabetic people in Finland were mainly explained by higher CHD incidence and particularly sudden deaths without prior CHD diagnosis. No systematic socioeconomic differences were found in long-term prognosis after CHD diagnosis.