Rural–urban disparities in mortality of patients with acute myocardial infarction and heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis - Summary - MDSpire
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Rural–urban disparities in mortality of patients with acute myocardial infarction and heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis
To assess differences in mortality between rural and urban patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and heart failure (HF), highlighting the significance of addressing these disparities.
Key Findings:
Rural patients with AMI had higher mortality rates at follow-up (15.5% vs. 13.4%; OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.13–1.24).
Rural patients with HF had higher mortality rates at follow-up (12.3% vs. 11.6%; OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.11–1.12).
A total of 37 studies were included, involving over 39.5 million patients.
Interpretation:
Patients living in rural areas have an increased risk of mortality compared to urban patients with AMI and HF, underscoring the urgent need for targeted clinical and policy interventions to address these disparities.
Limitations:
Heterogeneity among studies may affect the reliability of pooled results.
Variability in healthcare access and quality between regions may not be fully accounted for, and potential biases in study selection should be considered.
Conclusion:
Improving access to care and outcomes for rural patients is essential to reduce disparities in mortality rates between rural and urban populations, particularly through targeted healthcare policies.
by Babar Faridi, Steven Davies, Rashmi Narendrula, Allan Middleton, Rony Atoui, Sarah McIsaac, Sami Alnasser, Renato D Lopes, Mark Henderson, Jeff S Healey, Dennis T Ko, Mohammed Shurrab
