High-technology cardiac procedures. The impact of service availability on service use in New York State.

OBJECTIVE

To study the impact of the in-hospital availability of three cardiac procedures (cardiac catheterization, bypass surgery, and angioplasty) on their use in patients during the period following acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study, based on a statewide hospital discharge abstract data set.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients admitted with a principal diagnosis of AMI to New York State hospitals during March through June of 1986.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The odds of utilizing each of the three services either during the initial admission for AMI or during the 6-month postdischarge interval. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated comparing utilization in three groups of patients: those initially presenting to hospitals lacking all three services, those initially presenting to hospitals offering only cardiac catheterization, and those initially presenting to hospitals offering all three of the cardiac services. Odds were adjusted for age, sex, race, income, primary payer, severity of illness, and geographical distance to hospital.

RESULTS

Relative to patients initially presenting to hospitals lacking all three services, patients initially presenting to hospitals offering only cardiac catheterization were more likely to undergo cardiac catheterization (OR, 3.57; 95% confidence interval [Cl], 3.03 to 4.22), but were not significantly more likely to undergo bypass surgery or angioplasty. Relative to patients initially presenting to hospitals lacking all three services, patients initially presenting to hospitals offering all three services were more likely to undergo cardiac catheterization (OR, 5.50; 95% Cl, 4.66 to 6.50), bypass surgery (OR, 2.52; 95% Cl, 1.95 to 3.24), and angioplasty (OR, 6.85; 95% Cl, 4.73 to 10.58).

CONCLUSIONS

The availability of cardiac services in the hospital to which patients initially present strongly influences the likelihood of their use in the period following AMI.