title: Temporal trends in the utilization of echocardiography in Ontario, 2001 to 2009.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine utilization and growth in echocardiography among the general population of Ontario between 2001 and 2009. The age- and sex-adjusted rates of echocardiography grew from 39.1 per 1,000 persons in 2001 to 59.9 per 1,000 persons in 2009, for an annual rate of increase of 5.5%. Repeat echocardiograms increased at a rate of 10.6% per year and accounted for 25.3% of all procedures in 2009 as compared to 18.5% in 2002. While significant increases in echocardiography utilization were observed, opportunities may exist to improve the clinical utility of the echocardiograms performed in Ontario.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Saul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blecker
authors.forename: R Sacha
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Douglas S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Alter
authors.forename: Julie T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hannah J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Jack V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Tu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*; D013997:Time Factors