Impact of socioeconomic deprivation and area of residence on access to coronary revascularization and mortality after a first acute myocardial infarction in Québec

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) and area of residence are known to impact access to invasive cardiac procedures. Low SES adversely affects long-term mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Most of the data were derived from private healthcare systems. Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of SES and area of residence on access to coronary angiography, revascularization and mortality after a first AMI in a publicly-funded healthcare system with a high supply of catheterization facilities.

Methods: Québec administrative databases were used to identify all patients with a first AMI between 1997 and 2001. The SES was determined with the population deprivation index, which has 2 dimensions: material and social. Six-month access to angiography, revascularization and 1-year mortality were considered in proportional hazards survival regression analyses measuring the effect of deprivation and the geographical area of residence, accounting for several other covariates.

Results: The study cohort consisted of 50,242 patients. The most materially and socially deprived patients had a 16% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.25) and 13% (95% CI, 1.05-1.21) relative increased hazard of dying within 1 year respectively compared with the most privileged subjects. This mortality gradient could not be explained by meaningful differences in access to angiography or revascularization. Geography did not influence access to revascularization procedures.

Conclusions: Despite universal healthcare system, SES measured with a material and social deprivation index, had significant adverse effect on 1-year mortality after a first AMI. Such findings were not explained by lower access to coronary angiography or revascularization.