Physicians’ acquaintance with a new procedure results in higher patient referral: experience of Kosovo in coronary angiography
Abstract
Overview
The first coronary angiography in Kosovo
was completed in 2003. We analyzed coronary
angiographies performed in our center from
October 2003 until October 2009 divided into
two 3-year periods. The aims of our study
were: to compare the number of coronary
angiographies completed in the two periods;
to evaluate the prevalence of normal coronary
angiographies diagnosed in the first period
compared to the second period; and to assess
the prevalence of advanced coronary artery
disease in the first three years compared to
the last three years. This was a prospective
angiography study that included 1,139
patients. The first group had 422 patients,
who underwent the angiography procedure
during the first three years, and the second
group had 717 patients that went through the
procedure during the last three years. In the
first year, 109 coronary angiographies were
completed, followed by 137, 176, 213, 218 and
286 (P<0.001) procedures in the subsequent
years. In the first period, a normal or nearnormal
coronary artery profile was found in
27% of patients, while this figure rose to
approximately 39% in the second period
(P=0.004). Advanced coronary artery disease
was found in 45% of the patients who underwent
coronary angiography during the first
three years, whereas this figure was only 24%
of cases during the second period (P<0.001).
We believe that the availability of specialized
resources and the physicians’ familiarity with
coronary angiography in our country influenced
their decision to refer more patients for
this procedure.
Keywords
Coronary angiography, patient referral for coronary angiography, coronary artery disease.
Article Information
Correspondence
Aurora Bakalli, Department of Cardiology, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtina and the Cardiology Diagnostic Center- Diagnostika, Vushtrri, Kosovo. Tel. +377.44.151.111. E-mail: abakalli@hotmail.com
Received
2011-08-13T00:00:00
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