Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) Hospitalization

Chronic Diseases

Ischaemic Heart Disease or IHD is characterized by a reduction in blood supplied to the heart caused by disease of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle. The most common forms of IHD which result in hospitalizations are myocardial infarction (heart attack), atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and angina pectoris (chest pain). Diseases of the circulatory system, including IHD, were the leading cause of hospitalizations in Simcoe Muskoka for the eight year period between 2003 and 2010. IHD accounted for more than 40 per cent of all circulatory system disease related hospitalizations during this period of time.

The age-standardized hospitalization rate for IHD in Simcoe Muskoka for all ages and sexes in 2010 was 365.6 (351.4, 379.8) per 100,000 population, which was significantly higher than the Ontario rate of 294.9 (292.3, 297.5) per 100,000 population. The standardized morbidity ratio (SMR) for IHD hospitalizations in Simcoe Muskoka compared with Ontario was 1.24 (1.19, 1.29), which means that there was a 24 per cent greater IHD hospitalization experience in Simcoe Muskoka relative to Ontario in 2010. The SMR for Simcoe Muskoka in 2010 was significantly higher than the previous two years which suggests a widening in the gap between the local and provincial IHD hospitalization rates.

Figure one shows the trend in IHD hospitalizations rates for Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario over the eight year period between 2003 and 2010. The IHD hospitalization rates in Simcoe Muskoka declined steadily over the seven years between 2003 and 2009 before increasing in 2010. However, the overall trend still shows a significant decline over the past eight years with an average decrease of seven per cent per year -9.2%, -5.0%). The provincial IHD hospitalization rates have decreased each year since 2003 by an average decrease of seven per cent per year -7.6%, -5.9%).

Figure One

By Sex

In 2010, the age-standardized IHD hospitalization rate among Simcoe Muskoka males was 514.8 (490.1, 539.5) per 100,000, which was more than twice the female rate of 231.4 (216.7, 246.7) per 100,000. The IHD hospitalization rate for Ontario was significantly lower from the Simcoe Muskoka rate for both males and females in 2010.

Figure two shows the trend in IHD hospitalization rates for males and females in Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario over the eight year period between 2003 and 2010. IHD related hospitalizations in both Simcoe Muskoka among males and females declined each year between 2003 and 2009 before increasing in 2010. The provincial IHD hospitalization rates have decreased each year since 2003 for both males and females.

Figure Two

By Age Group

Hospitalizations for IHD increases with age and is higher for males at each age interval (see figure three). The age-specific rate for IHD hospitalizations between 2003 and 2010 (combined) in Simcoe Muskoka was highest among those 75 years and older at 3, 497.4 (3,385.0, 3,609.8) hospital discharges per 100,000 males (75+) and 2, 274.8 (2,199.9, 2,349.6) hospital discharges per 100,00 females (75+).

Figure Three