No evidence for social class inequalities in intervention for coronary heart disease in Otago 1987-9.
OBJECTIVE
to investigate whether social class differences in access to cardiac surgical interventions (angioplasties and coronary artery bypass grafting) could explain social class inequalities in mortality from coronary heart disease.


METHODS
rates of therapeutic interventions to treat coronary heart disease were calculated for male patients aged less than 65 years admitted for the first time to Dunedin Hospital with a principal diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease (ICD codes 410-414) during the three year period from 1 January 1987 to 31 December 1989. Patients were categorised into different socioeconomic groups using the Elley-Irving social class scale.


RESULTS
no statistically significant trend across social class was observed in the cumulative incidence of cardiac surgical interventions (angioplasties, coronary artery bypass grafts). Similarly there was no statistically significant trend across social class in the incidence rates of cardiac surgical interventions, even after adjustment for age.


CONCLUSIONS
social class inequalities in access to cardiac surgical intervention do not appear to explain the observed inequalities in mortality from coronary heart disease.
Phillips
D
D
Department of Community Health, Wellington School of Medicine.
Kawachi
I
I
Marshall
S
S
Purdie
G
G
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D012935:Social Justice