Presenting to rural versus urban hospitals for acute cardiovascular conditions was associated with higher 30-day mortality for AMI (HR 1.10), HF (HR 1.15), and ischemic stroke (HR 1.20).
Cross-Sectional (n=2,182,903)
Yes
Does presenting to a rural hospital increase mortality in older adults with acute cardiovascular conditions compared to urban hospitals?
Older adults presenting to rural hospitals for acute cardiovascular conditions experience lower rates of procedural interventions and higher mortality compared to those at urban hospitals.
Effect estimate: HR 1.10 (AMI), HR 1.15 (HF), HR 1.20 (Stroke) (95% CI 1.08 to 1.12 (AMI), 1.13 to 1.16 (HF), 1.18 to 1.22 (Stroke))
BACKGROUND: U.S. policy efforts have focused on reducing rural-urban health inequities. However, it is unclear whether gaps in care and outcomes remain among older adults with acute cardiovascular conditions. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate rural-urban differences in procedural care and mortality for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), and ischemic stroke. METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged ≥65 years with acute cardiovascular conditions from 2016 to 2018. Cox proportional hazards models with random hospital intercepts were fit to examine the association of presenting to a rural (vs urban) hospital and 30- and 90-day patient-level mortality. RESULTS: There were 2,182,903 Medicare patients hospitalized with AMI, HF, or ischemic stroke from 2016 to 2018. Patients with AMI were less likely to undergo cardiac catherization (49.7% vs 63.6%, P < 0.001), percutaneous coronary intervention (42.1% vs 45.7%, P < 0.001) or coronary artery bypass graft (9.0% vs 10.2%, P < 0.001) within 30 days at rural versus urban hospitals. Thrombolysis rates (3.1% vs 10.1%, P < 0.001) and endovascular therapy (1.8% vs 3.6%, P < 0.001) for ischemic stroke were lower at rural hospitals. After adjustment for demographics and clinical comorbidities, the 30-day mortality HR was significantly higher among patients presenting to rural hospitals for AMI (HR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.12), HF (HR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.16), and ischemic stroke (HR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.22), with similar patterns at 90 days. These differences were most pronounced for the subset of critical access hospitals that serve remote, rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical, public health, and policy efforts are needed to improve rural-urban gaps in care and outcomes for acute cardiovascular conditions.
Loccoh et al. (Sat,) conducted a cross-sectional in Acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and ischemic stroke (n=2,182,903). Rural hospital presentation vs. Urban hospital presentation was evaluated on 30-day patient-level mortality (HR 1.10 (AMI), HR 1.15 (HF), HR 1.20 (Stroke), 95% CI 1.08 to 1.12 (AMI), 1.13 to 1.16 (HF), 1.18 to 1.22 (Stroke)). Presenting to rural versus urban hospitals for acute cardiovascular conditions was associated with higher 30-day mortality for AMI (HR 1.10), HF (HR 1.15), and ischemic stroke (HR 1.20).