title: Impact of free universal medical coverage on medical care and outcomes in low-income patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction: an analysis from the FrenchNational Health Insurance system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The type of medical coverage in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may affect their treatment and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We used the reimbursement database from the French National Health Insurance to determine the impact of full medical coverage (Couverture Médicale Universelle Complémentaire, CMUC), a free supplemental insurance for low-income earners <60 years of age, on treatment and outcomes of patients with AMI. The population comprised consecutive patients <60 years of age hospitalized for AMI from January to June 2006 in France. Of 4939 patients with AMI aged <60 years, 587 (12%) were on the CMUC. CMUC patients were younger, with more prior cardiovascular and comorbid conditions. CMUC and non-CMUC patients were admitted to the same types of institutions, including academic hospitals and private clinics. The use of cardiac catheterization and coronary interventions was similar (adjusted relative risk, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.91-1.05; P=0.45). In-hospital mortality was also comparable (3.1% versus 2.8%, P=0.69). There was no difference in early use of secondary prevention medications after multivariate adjustment. At 30 months, survival and acute coronary syndrome-free survival were lower in CMUC patients (trend, not significant after adjustment). Long-term adherence to statin therapy was lower in CMUC patients (64% versus 77%; adjusted relative risk, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-0.92).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Free full coverage for socially deprived people levels inequalities in the acute and midterm treatment of AMI patients. However, full reimbursement per se is not sufficient to ensure optimal patient adherence to secondary prevention medications and may not be enough to prevent an excess of long-term events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Coronary Artery Disease, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris and Université René Descartes 5, 20 rue Leblanc, Paris, France. nicolas.danchin@egp.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Danchin
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tuppin
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Peretti
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weill
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ricordeau
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Allemand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017130:Angioplasty; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D009313:National Health Programs; D011203:Poverty; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019472:Universal Health Insurance