Myocardial infarction and heart failure hospitalization rates in Maine, USA - variability along the urban-rural continuum
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-2008
Publication Title
Rural and Remote Health
Keywords
health services accessibility, statistics and numerical data, heart failure, epidemiology, hospitalization, myocardial infarction, rural population, urban population, Cutler, Population Health and Health Policy, USM
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF), remains the leading cause of death in wealthy countries and is of increasing concern in low- and middle-income countries as risk factors such as smoking and obesity become more common around the globe. Within each country the health burden of MI and HF generally falls more heavily on those who live in rural areas and on those who live in communities with lower average socioeconomic status (SES). Hospitalization rates are an important measure of community health because high rates may indicate a high burden of poor health, while inappropriately low rates (low hospitalization rates absent evidence of average good health) may indicate underutilization of health services. The objective of this study was to determine the predictors of MI and HF hospitalization rates at town level in the State of Maine, USA. Maine has large variations in wealth and along the urban-rural continuum at town level. Because our results shed light on variations in health and health-seeking behavior for different Maine populations (such as those living closer vs further from hospitals) they may be of interest to providers of healthcare to people who live in areas remote from healthcare, and to people who face other barriers to good cardiovascular health.
Recommended Citation
Harris D.E., Aboueissa A., & Hartley D. (2008). Myocardial infarction and heart failure hospitalization rates in Maine, USA - variability along the urban-rural continuum. Rural & Remote Health, 8(2).
