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Geographic analysis of cardiac interventional services in Alabama

Barbara Ann Graves1

  • 1Capstone College of Nursing, University of Alabama, Box 870358, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0358, USA. agraves@bama.ua.edu

The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
|November 16, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Geographical accessibility to cardiac interventional services (CIS) in Alabama is limited for some populations. While 96% of Alabamians are within 90 minutes of CIS, only 58.2% are within the critical 30-minute window for acute myocardial infarction treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Geospatial Analysis
  • Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in Alabama.
  • Access to timely cardiac interventional services (CIS) is crucial for treating acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
  • Geographical disparities in healthcare access may exacerbate health inequities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the geographical accessibility of the Alabama population to hospitals providing CIS.
  • To identify areas with limited access to time-sensitive cardiac care.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive ecological study design was employed.
  • Geographical Information System (GIS) analysis of census tract-level population data.
  • Calculation of travel times and population proportions within various travel time thresholds.

Main Results:

  • 96.0% of the Alabama population is within a 90-minute travel time to a CIS facility.
  • Only 85.9% and 58.2% of the population are within 60- and 30-minute travel times, respectively.
  • A specific area in the Alabama Black Belt exhibits travel times exceeding 90 minutes, impacting a predominantly Black and impoverished population.

Conclusions:

  • While most of Alabama's population is within 90 minutes of CIS, optimal treatment outcomes require closer proximity.
  • Significant portions of the population lack access within the recommended 30- or 60-minute travel times for acute myocardial infarction.
  • Targeted interventions may be needed to improve CIS accessibility in underserved regions like the Alabama Black Belt.
Abstract

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