Geographic variation in invasive cardiac procedure rates in New South Wales, Australia

Objectives This study explores the contribution of sociodemographic factors to the geographic variation in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure rates in New South Wales, Australia. Methods With the utilisation of small area analysis and regression model techniques, the possible explanatory factors of the local government area (LGA) level variation in CABG and PCI rates in terms of coronary artery disease prevalence, supply and access to health-care services, socio-economic status and ethnic origin of the people were examined. Results Multivariate regression results show that distance to hospitals is negatively associated with LGA-specific CABG and PCI rates. The CABG rate is lower and PCI rate is higher in LGAs with higher percentages of Europeanborn residents. Higher proportions of surgeries were recorded for relatively younger people in the lowest socioeconomic LGAs. Conclusions The focus should be on educating people in the lowest socio-economic LGAs in lifestyle management in order to minimise surgical interventions at a younger age.