Home

Canadian Heart Attack Death Rate Higher

Wed, 09/20/2000 - 12:00am — Karen Stevenson
Description: 

New research comparing U.S. and Canadian healthcare systems found that Canadian patients with unstable angina were 44% more likely to have had a heart attack or died six months after coming to the hospital complaining of chest pain, but after one year the overall mortality rate for patients with small heart attacks and unstable angina was nearly the same for Canadians and Americans. Researchers found that more U.S. than Canadian hospitals were equipped to provide high-tech treatment to patients with unstable angina. More had on-site treatment facilities, and even when they did not have such facilities, U.S. patients were more likely to be transferred in a timely manner to a hospital that did. The study was done by researchers at the University of Alberta, and was reported in the September 19 issue of Circulation Magazine.

New research comparing U.S. and Canadian healthcare systems found that Canadian patients with unstable angina were 44% more likely to have had a heart attack or died six months after coming to the hospital complaining of chest pain, but after one year the overall mortality rate for patients with small heart attacks and unstable angina was nearly the same for Canadians and Americans. Researchers found that more U.S. than Canadian hospitals were equipped to provide high-tech treatment to patients with unstable angina. More had on-site treatment facilities, and even when they did not have such facilities, U.S. patients were more likely to be transferred in a timely manner to a hospital that did. The study was done by researchers at the University of Alberta, and was reported in the September 19 issue of Circulation Magazine.