Coronary angiography and coronary artery revascularisation rates in public and private hospital patients after acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rates of coronary angiography or coronary artery revascularisation procedures in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) managed in private versus public hospitals. DESIGN: Case record linkage analysis of data from the Victorian Inpatient Minimum Dataset for admissions for AMI in the 12 months after the index admission. SETTING: Victorian acute care hospitals from July 1995 to December 1997. PATIENTS: Victorian residents aged 15-85 years admitted to hospital with AMI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of coronary angiography or coronary artery revascularisation procedures after AMI. RESULTS: Compared with public patients in public hospitals, patients with AMI managed in private hospitals were more likely to undergo coronary angiography (rate ratio [RR], 2.17; P< 0.001; 95% CI, 2.06-2.29), coronary angioplasty or stenting (RR, 3.05; P<0.001; 95% CI, 2.82-3.31), and coronary artery bypass grafting (RR, 1.95; P<0.001; 95% CI, 1.79-2.14). Once coronary angiography had been performed, patients in private hospitals were more likely to undergo angioplasty or stenting (RR, 1.94; P<0.001; 95% CI, 1.79-2.11), but were only marginally more likely to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (RR, 1.17; P<0.001; 95% CI, 1.07-1.28). CONCLUSIONS: In Victoria, management of patients with acute myocardial infarction is influenced by the public or private status of the patient, and by whether management occurs in private or public hospitals. Patients are more likely to undergo coronary angiography and coronary artery revascularisation procedures in private hospitals.