title: Trends in wait times for cardiac revascularization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Improving access to care and reducing wait times are perpetual objectives of Canada's provincially administered health care systems. The objective of this study was to investigate wait times for both percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical registry data for all patients who underwent PCI or isolated CABG between fiscal years 1995-1996 and 2007-2008 in Alberta and between fiscal years 2000-2001 and 2007-2008 in British Columbia was used. The first revascularization procedure was identified and linked to its preceding catheterization procedure. "Time to procedure" was calculated as the number of days between catheterization and revascularization dates. Times to PCI and CABG from catheterization were described by fiscal year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between April 1, 1995, and March 31, 2008, in Alberta, 50,068 patients received revascularization following their catheterization. Between April 1, 2000, and March 31, 2008, in British Columbia, 52,462 patients received revascularization following their catheterization. Of these, 70.6% and 29.4% received PCI and CABG, respectively, in Alberta, and 74.9% and 25.1% received PCI and CABG, respectively, in British Columbia. For CABG, median waiting times decreased from 31 to 13 days in Alberta and from 17 to 11 days in British Columbia; for PCIs, most now occur on the same day as catheterization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both Alberta and British Columbia have experienced remarkable improvements in wait times for coronary revascularization procedures from time of catheterization.
authors: Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Danielle A
authors: DA
authors: Southern
authors: Mona
authors: M
authors: Izadnegahdar
authors: Mona
authors: M
authors: Izadneghadar
authors: Karin H
authors: KH
authors: Humphries
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Gao
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Wang
authors: Merril L
authors: ML
authors: Knudtson
authors: Michelle M
authors: MM
authors: Graham
authors: William A
authors: WA
authors: Ghali
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists