TY - JOUR
T1 - Disparities in stroke preventive care in general practice did not explain socioeconomic disparities in stroke
AU - Avendano, M.
AU - Boshuizen, H. C.
AU - Schellevis, F. G.
AU - Mackenbach, J. P.
AU - Van Lenthe, F. J.
AU - Van den Bos, G. A M
PY - 2006/12/1
Y1 - 2006/12/1
N2 - Objective: To assess socioeconomic disparities in stroke incidence and in the quality of preventive care for stroke in the Netherlands. Study Design and Settings: A total of 190,664 patients who registered in 96 general practices were followed up for 12 months. Data were collected on diagnoses, referrals, prescriptions, and diagnostic procedures. Hazard ratios (HR) were calculated to assess the association between educational level and stroke incidence. Multilevel logistic regression was used to assess socioeconomic disparities in the quality of preventive care for stroke precursors. Results: Lower educational level was associated with higher incidence of stroke in men (HR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.06-1.74) but not in women. Among both men and women, there were socioeconomic disparities in the prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, angina pectoris, heart failure, and peripheral artery disease. Lower educated hypercholesterolemia patients under medication were less likely to be prescribed statins (odds ratio = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.42-0.91). However, for other precursors of stroke, there were no major disparities in the quality of preventive care. Conclusion: There are socioeconomic disparities in stroke incidence among men but not among women. Socioeconomic differences in factors such as hypertension and diabetes are likely to contribute to stroke disparities. However, general practitioners(GPs) provide care of a similar quality to patients from different socioeconomic groups.
AB - Objective: To assess socioeconomic disparities in stroke incidence and in the quality of preventive care for stroke in the Netherlands. Study Design and Settings: A total of 190,664 patients who registered in 96 general practices were followed up for 12 months. Data were collected on diagnoses, referrals, prescriptions, and diagnostic procedures. Hazard ratios (HR) were calculated to assess the association between educational level and stroke incidence. Multilevel logistic regression was used to assess socioeconomic disparities in the quality of preventive care for stroke precursors. Results: Lower educational level was associated with higher incidence of stroke in men (HR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.06-1.74) but not in women. Among both men and women, there were socioeconomic disparities in the prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, angina pectoris, heart failure, and peripheral artery disease. Lower educated hypercholesterolemia patients under medication were less likely to be prescribed statins (odds ratio = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.42-0.91). However, for other precursors of stroke, there were no major disparities in the quality of preventive care. Conclusion: There are socioeconomic disparities in stroke incidence among men but not among women. Socioeconomic differences in factors such as hypertension and diabetes are likely to contribute to stroke disparities. However, general practitioners(GPs) provide care of a similar quality to patients from different socioeconomic groups.
KW - Cerebrovascular accident
KW - Family practice
KW - Incidence
KW - Prevention and control
KW - Quality of healthcare
KW - Social class
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33750736360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2006.03.010
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2006.03.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 17098571
SN - 0895-4356
VL - 59
SP - 1285
EP - 1294
JO - Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
JF - Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
IS - 12
ER -