Hospital variation in use of secondary preventive medicine after discharge for first acute myocardial infarction during 1995-2004.

Søren Rasmussen, Steen Zabell Abildstrøm, Jeppe Nørgaard Rasmussen, Gunnar Hilmar Gislason, Tina K Schramm, Fredrik Folke, Lars Køber, Christian Torp-Pedersen, Mette Madsen

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine temporal trends in hospital use of secondary preventive medicine after discharge for first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Denmark. DESIGN: Observational study from national administrative databases of 60,339 patients who survived a first AMI at 73 acute-care hospitals during 1995-2004. OUTCOME MEASURES: At least 1 prescription claim for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta-blockers, or statins within 90 days of discharge for AMI. FINDINGS: The odds ratios between hospitals in the highest and lowest deciles, adjusted for age, gender, period, income, comorbidity, concomitant, and prior pharmaceutical therapy, in 1995 were 8.5 [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.5-12.2] for beta-blockers, 3.0 (2.3-3.7) for ACE inhibitors, and 6.2 (4.1-8.8) for statins. By 2004, the hospital variation had decreased for beta-blockers (3.2; 2.3-4.0) and statins (4.2; 3.0-5.5) but had increased for ACE inhibitors (3.8; 2.7-4.9). All the changes over time were significant (P < 0.001). Geographical characteristics of the hospital explained 32% of the variation in use of beta-blockers in 2004 and 27% in 1995, 39% of the variation in use of ACE inhibitors in 2004 and 3% in 1995, and 29% of the variation in use of statins and 19% in 1995. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital use of secondary preventive medicine after discharge for AMI varied substantially. Hospital variation in use of beta-blockers and statins decreased with time whereas variation in use of ACE inhibitors increased. This may be attributed to gradually better agreement for the use of beta-blockers and statins and lesser agreement for the use of ACE inhibitors.
Udgivelsesdato: 2008-Jan
Original languageEnglish
JournalMedical Care
Volume46
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)70-7
Number of pages7
ISSN0025-7079
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

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