title: [Geographic variation in hospitalizations and mortality related to congestive heart failure in Spain, 1980-1993].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Geographical differences in hospitalizations and mortality for heart failure serve to estimate the potential for reducing the associated hospital and demographic burden on the population. Accordingly, the objective of this paper is to analyze the geographic variation in heart failure hospitalizations and mortality in Spain during the period of 1980-1993, and to examine their potential determinants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on the primary diagnosis of heart failure were taken from the National Hospital Morbidity Survey and National Vital Statistics. Information on determinants of heart failure were obtained from large-scale nationally representative surveys conducted by the National Statistics Office.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The period of 1980-1993 witnessed a decrease in geographical differences in heart failure hospitalizations and mortality. Theoretically, however, heart failure hospitalizations and mortality among persons aged > or = 45 years could still be further reduced by 60% and 30% respectively. In the period of 1989-1993 heart failure hospitalizations were correlated (p < 0.05) with ischaemic heart disease hospitalizations and the number of beds/1,000 inhabitants. Heart failure mortality showed a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.05) with ischaemic heart disease mortality, illiteracy and unemployed status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a great potential for a reduction in the hospital and demographic burden of heart failure in Spain. Control of ischaemic heart disease and a reduction in the geographical differences in socio-economic status would probably contribute to lessening the healthcare burden of heart failure in Spain.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad del País Vasco, Vitoria. fernando.artalejo@uam.es
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Artalejo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guallar-Castillón
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Banegas Banegas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: del Rey Calero
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology