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Exploring the association between private health insurance and coronary artery disease burden in regional Australia using computed tomography coronary angiography


T. Bemand, H. Kempton, J. Suttie

Background

Private health insurance globally may be associated with a lower risk of overall mortality. However the relationship between burden of cardiovascular disease and health insurance in regional Australia is currently unclear.

Method

A prospective longitudinal study of those undergoing computed tomography cardiac angiography in a single radiology centre in Wagga Wagga. Coronary artery disease was measured by calcium scoring and compared according to health insurance status.

Results

A total of 1436 patients were included in this trial, and 764 (53.2%) had private health insurance. There was no significant difference in the distributions of calcium score between those who did and did not have private health insurance (medians [25th centile - 75th centile] 6 [0-132.5] and 11 [0-136] respectively; Mann-Whitney U p=0.4)

Conclusion

Preliminary data suggest there is no association between private health insurance and coronary artery disease burden in regional Australia for the population investigated.

November, 2020
10.37912/WaggaJOM.0301.37

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