Regional differences in hospital admission rates for suspected and verified myocardial infarction in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate differences in the occurrences of hospitalized suspected and verified acute myocardial infarction (AMI) between the two hospital regions, Namdal and Innherred, within a single county in Norway.


METHODS
A descriptive epidemiological study.


METHODS
The county of Nord-Trøndelag in the central part of Norway (131,000 inhabitants).


METHODS
Patients admitted for suspected AMI 13 March-11 June 1995.


METHODS
Proportion of verified AMI among patients admitted. Regional incidence rates for AMI.


RESULTS
Among 347 patients admitted to hospitals with suspected AMI, AMI was verified in 120 (35%), corresponding to an annual incidence rate of 509 and 294 per 100,000 (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Among patients admitted with suspicion of AMI, approximately one third had AMI. The study revealed substantial differences for AMI between two neighbouring hospital regions within one county in Norway. This difference may have implications for the planning and cost of hospital care.
Fretland
S
S
Community Health Service, Namsos, Norway.
Krüger
O
O
Graven
T
T
Hegbom
K
K
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006780:Hospitals, Rural / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*