title: Effects of morbidity, age, gender and region on percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) utilisation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate changes in the use of PTCA application in respect to morbidity, gender, region and age, and to investigate the morbidity as related to geographical variation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective record linkage study.
  
  
  METHODS
  All hospitals and cardiological centres (n = 156) which performed the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS).
  
  
  METHODS
  All Austrian residents who were diagnosed for myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease or angina pectoris in 1993-1995 (1993: n = 73.077; 1994: n = 80.173; 1995: n = 84.896).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention rate (IR = PTCA/indication) increased from 0.03-0.04 (33%) between 1993 and 1995 with differences in genders (males: 24%, females: 27.7%) and regions (Vorarlberg: -7.5%, Burgenland: 65.3%). Male morbidity started to increase at about 60 y and female morbidity at about 70 y. Morbidity as a demand factor did not correlate with PTCA application. The intervention rate was significantly lower for females in Austria in general (P < 0.001) as it was in every Federal State (P < 0.001). This pattern was constant during 1993-1995 with the highest difference in Salzburg and the lowest in Styria. Austrian men were about three times more likely to have received PTCA application than women (crude Odds Ratio = 2.8, 95% CI = 2.6-3, P-value < 0.001). Logistic regression modelling revealed age as main confounder (adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.31-1.42, P < 0.001). The > or = 5% intervention rate peak was between 30-75 y for males and between 30-65 y for females whereas morbidity of > or = 1% started for males at about 50 y and for females at about 60 y. Marked geographical differences of the intervention rate were observed (Upper Austria, Salzburg IR = 0.07, Styria IR = 0.02) but could not be explained by the demand factor morbidity (Pearson's correlation coefficients 1993: 0.039, P = 0.71; 1994: 0.155, P = 0.133; 1995: 0.087, P = 0.399).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The highest intervention rates were in the age groups with the lowest morbidity. Women received significantly fewer interventions than men by age and region. The demographic strata with lowest use rate were women aged 64 y and more. Marked geographical differences of PTCA application were stated but could not be explained by the demand factor morbidity. Further studies on supply factors as well as on economic and social factors are needed in order to develop public health strategies to guarantee equal utilisation rates for the whole Austrian population.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institute for Epidemiology and Research on Health Systems, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Muhlberger
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ulmer
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D017678:Sex Distribution