The number of coronary revascularisation procedures performed in
Australian hospitals has increased from 16,000 to more than 38,000
over the last decade, an average of more than 100 every day,
according to a new report released today by the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare.
Revascularisation involves two main types of procedures to
overcome blockages in the heart's own blood vessels and restore an
adequate supply: coronary angioplasty with stenting and coronary
artery bypass grafting (CABG).
The report, Coronary Revascularisation in Australia,
2000, shows that these types of heart procedures have
increased by about 30% over the last decade-34% for women and 28%
for men, primarily due to the doubling of rates for angioplasty and
coronary stenting.
Rates for CABG, which is more invasive than angioplasty as it
requires opening of a patient's chest, have fallen by about
12%.
Author of the report, Joanne Davies, said revascularisation
procedures are three times as common in men as it is in women.
'Angioplasty procedures are also increasingly being used to
treat older patients--particularly those aged 75 years and over-and
can be used in the early treatment of heart attacks.'
The Heart Foundation's Director of Health, Medical and
Scientific Affairs, Professor Andrew Tonkin, said that coronary
revasculisation procedures were one of the 'great recent advances
against Australia's biggest epidemic'.
'Heart disease mainly affects middle-aged and older Australians
with most hospital admissions for heart attack and cardiac
procedures occurring among men and women aged 60 years and over,'
Professor Tonkin said.
There has been a substantial increase in the share of
angioplasty procedures undertaken in private hospitals-much larger
than for CABG operations.
27 August 2003
Further information: Ms Joanne Davies, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1067 or 0413 226 669; Professor Andrew Tonkin, NHF,
contact Donna Le Page tel. 0412 797 937 (mobile)
Media copies of the report: Publications Officer,
AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW
Publications Catalogue for details.