[Appropriateness of indicating aortocoronary bypass and coronary angioplasty: results of an observational prospective study in the Lombardy region. Gruppo Interdisciplinare Valutazione Appropriatezza Rivascolarizzazione Coronarica].

OBJECTIVE

Most studies on the appropriateness of cardiac revascularization procedures have been aimed at detecting "overuse" (ie when patients get a procedure without a clear indication), while little attention has been paid yet to "underuse" (when patients who could benefit from a procedure do not get it). This study was planned to assess the extent of over- and underuse of revascularization procedures in northern Italy.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary panel of experts convened by the Italian Association of Hospital Cardiologists (ANMCO) rated the appropriateness of 898 "theoretical indications" for coronary artery by-pass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTCA) using the RAND Corporation methodology. Standardized information has been collected on a consecutive sample of patients in the Lombardy region and identified during performance of a coronary angiogram at one of the services belonging to the GISE (Gruppo Italiano Studi Emodinamica) network. Out of the 2718 consecutive patients undergoing a coronary angiogram during the recruitment period (February-May 1995), a total of 1821 (70%) were eligible for the appropriateness study.

RESULTS

Indication for CABG were appropriate in 565 (80%) patients, uncertain in 111 (16%) and inappropriate in 25 (4%). Corresponding values for PTCA were: 40% (n = 262), 46% (n = 300) and 14% (n = 90). Among the 394 to whom a medical therapy was recommended after angiography, the indication was considered appropriated in only 14% (n = 57) and uncertain for 30% (n = 117). For the remaining 220, the indication was considered inappropriate, suggesting that according to the panel criteria, 56% of the patients should have received a revascularization procedure (either a CABG or PTCA) instead.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that underuse of revascularization procedures represents a substantial health care problem in Lombardy region, at least with reference to the period covered by this study. The study in itself does not make it possible to understand whether these results reflect a structural shortage of services (limited accessibility and/or unprioritized waiting lists) or a more general quality-of-care problem. The study protocol now foresees a follow-up for 9 months after the index angiogram to assess the eventual utilization pattern of CABG/PTCA.