title: Decomposing differences in acute myocardial infarction fatality in Italian regions.
abstract: The paper develops a general method for evaluating geographical differences in the outcome of acute myocardial infarction patients, by looking at the process of disease occurrence from infarction to hospitalization and possible death or recovery. The method is applied to regional data in Italy, where the long history of geographical diversities in economical, social and cultural fields is reflected in health care. Specific features of AMI, such as high fatality and fast course of the disease, make it a suitable tracer condition to investigate into the differences of regional health systems during the acute phase of hospitalization. The paper combines administrative and official statistics by region and offers a tool providing suggestions to policy-makers where further eventual investigations are needed around the care pathway and also what possible actions might be undertaken to improve the outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nazionale di Epidemiologia, Sorveglianza e Promozione della Salute, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Francisci
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gigli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gesano
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Folino-Gallo
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution