Health Inequities in Manitoba: Is the Socioeconomic Gap

Health Inequities in Manitoba: Is the Socioeconomic Gap in Health Widening or Narrowing Over Time?
Ischemic Heart Disease
Definition
Ischemia (is–KE’me–ah) is a condition in which the blood flow (and thus oxygen) is restricted to a part of
the body. Cardiac ischemia is the name for lack of blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle. Thus, the
term ‘ischemic heart disease’ (IHD) refers to heart problems caused by narrowed heart arteries. When
arteries are narrowed, less blood and oxygen reach the heart muscle. This is also called coronary artery
disease and coronary heart disease. It can ultimately lead to heart attack.
In this study, the average annual age– and sex– adjusted prevalence of IHD was measured for residents
aged 19 and older over eight 3-year periods. Residents were considered to have IHD if they met one of
the following conditions:
• one or more hospitalizations with a diagnosis of IHD: ICD–9–CM codes 410–414; ICD–10–CA
codes I20–I22, I24, I25
• two or more physician visits with a diagnosis of IHD (ICD–9–CM codes as above)
The denominator includes all Manitoba residents aged 19 and older in the specified time period.
Time Periods Average annual prevalence (%)
T1: 1984/85–1986/87 6.37
T2: 1987/88–1989/90 6.19
T3: 1990/91–1992/93 5.81
T4: 1993/94–1995/96 5.61
T5: 1996/97–1998/99 5.59
T6: 1999/00–2001/02 5.67
T7: 2002/03–2004/05 5.23
T8: 2005/06–2007/08 4.47
Key Findings: Ischemic Heart Disease
Manitoba overall rates:
• From the first time period T1 (1984/85–1986/87) to the last time period T8 (2005/06–2007/08), the
overall Manitoba ischemic heart disease (IHD) prevalence for people aged 19 and older decreased
steadily from 6.37% to 4.47%.
Rates by neighbourhood income quintile over time:
Rural:
• Comparing T1 to T8, IHD prevalence of all rural neighbourhood income quintile groups decreased.
The decrease was fairly steady for R2 to R5, whereas the change over time in R1 showed an increase
to T6 (1999/2000–2001/02) and a decrease after that for a slight decrease over the study period.
Manitoba Centre for Health Policy 97