Utilization of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for quality assurance in health care from 1983 to 1996

Objectives: To examine the distribution of interventional cardiac catheteri zation laboratories, their case load, the time trends, and the regional var iation of percutaneous transluminal cutaneous angioplasty (PTCA) utilizatio n in Italy. Methods: Analysis of data was provided by the annual reports of the Italian Group of Studies and interventional Cardiology over the period from 1983 t o 1996. Results: The number of PTCA facilities and their use steadily increased, ma inly in the North. In 1996 the utilization rate was 34 per 100,000 populati on, but only 60% of labs performed 200 or more procedures. Conclusions: Dramatic time trends and regional variations often took place without an epidemiology and technology assessment-based planning process.