[Referral to elective and emergency coronary investigation from a medium-size central hospital].
BACKGROUND
Little is known about regional differences in the incidence of acute and elective invasive coronary procedures in Norway. Such information is important in the planning of new invasive centres.


METHODS
In this prospective study all patients referred to coronary angiography at the Rikshospitalet University Hospital in Oslo (100 km remote) from the county of Vestfold (218,000 inhabitants) from 1 December 2002 to 30 November 2003 were included. Referrals were categorised as acute or elective. Based upon the discharge summaries from Oslo, all coronary angiographies, percutaneous interventions and coronary artery bypass grafts were registered.


RESULTS
A total of 760 patients were referred, of whom 746 (98 %) underwent coronary angiography (19 % acutely). They were treated as follows: percutaneous coronary intervention, n = 295 (31 % acutely); coronary artery bypass grafting, n = 123 and conservative treatment, n = 342.


CONCLUSIONS
Based upon these results, the incidence figures for 100,000 inhabitants per year in 2003 were similar to the nation-wide average for percutaneous interventions per year in Norway in 2001 and approximately 30 % below that average for 2003. Therefore, in the planning of an optimal peripheral catheterisation laboratory, the population basis has to be calculated from the local incidence of procedures, since there are obviously significant regional differences in the use of such procedures.
Aune
Erlend
E
Hjertemedisinsk avdeling, Hjerteseksjonen Klinikk Medisin, Sykehuset i Vestfold, HF 3103 Tønsberg. erlend.aune@siv.no
Otterstad
Jan Erik
JE
Endresen
Knut
K
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006285:Health Planning; D006801:Humans; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*