Heart attacks more likely among lower-income groups, but quality of care about the same for all Canadians

Variations in heart attack and hysterectomy rates much greater by region than by socio-economic status

Canadians living in the least-affluent neighbourhoods are more likely to have a heart attack than those in more-affluent areas, according to a new report released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Canadians living in low-income neighbourhoods have higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, smoking and other cardiac risk factors. However, heart attack patients receive about the same quality of care across the country, regardless of their socio-economic status.

The report, Health Indicators 2010, provides more than 40 measures of health and health system performance in Canada for larger health regions, provinces and territories. This year`s report includes a special focus on disparities by socio-economic status, through the analysis of two common reasons for hospitalizations in Canada-acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs), commonly known as heart attacks, and hysterectomies.

Report:
Health Indicators 2010