Background: In Italy cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death. Percutaneous Transluminal
Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) reduces short-term deaths in patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). We
evaluated inequalities in accessing PTCA among AMI patients.
Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study on 9894 Italian patients hospitalized for AMI in 2003-2007.
Generalized linear models were estimated for the probability of PTCA and for time between hospital admission
and intervention.
Result: Gender was the most relevant factor in the probability of intervention. Patients ≥75 years and
those with higher Charlson index had lower probability. The presence of a coronary unit was associated with
greater probability. Surgical intervention within 24 hours from admission was more likely with increasing age and
Charlson index and less likely for patients living near a coronary unit. Days between admission and intervention
resulted affected by all covariates and deprivation index.
Conclusion: Consistently with literature, we pointed out the role of gender and age on the likelihood of
PTCA. Additional factors affecting time to intervention (coronary units and deprivation index) were also identified.
