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Long wait for angiography increases patient risk
Insights
Patients needing cardiac angiography may face delays if reliant on public assistance. A Texas study found waiting lists increase cardiac event and hospitalization risks after two weeks, highlighting the need for prioritized care.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Health Services Research
- Health Economics
Background:
- Cardiac catheterization procedures are increasingly common.
- Financial barriers, particularly for publicly assisted patients, can lead to delays in diagnostic angiography.
- Timely access to cardiac procedures is crucial for patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of waiting lists for cardiac angiography on patient outcomes.
- To identify risk factors associated with delayed angiography.
- To propose criteria for prioritizing patients on angiography waiting lists.
Main Methods:
- A study was conducted in a state-owned hospital in Texas.
- Patient data from waiting lists for angiography were analyzed.
- The study assessed cardiac events and hospitalizations in relation to waiting times.
Main Results:
- Patients on angiography waiting lists face increased risks of cardiac events and hospitalization.
- A waiting period of two weeks or longer significantly elevates these risks.
- Patients with strongly positive stress tests or on multiple medications for ischemic heart disease are particularly vulnerable.
Conclusions:
- Waiting lists for cardiac angiography pose a significant risk to patient health, especially for those facing financial or public assistance barriers.
- Prioritization of patients based on clinical urgency (e.g., positive stress tests, multiple cardiac medications) is essential to mitigate risks.
- Healthcare systems should address financial and logistical barriers to timely cardiac diagnostic procedures.
Abstract:
KEY POINTS Despite an explosion in the number of cardiac catheterizations being performed today, patients who rely on public assistance may have to wait for an angiogram if they are unable to pay on their own. A Texas study of patients in a state-owned hospital reports that after two weeks on a waiting list for angiography, the risk of cardiac events and hospitalization rises. When patients are placed on a waiting list, priority should be given to those who have strongly positive stress tests or who take two or three different medications for ischemic heart disease.