Adherence to American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology standard guidelines of angiography in Shiraz, Iran.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Coronary angiography is the most accurate and standard method for investigating the anatomic status and blood supply to the heart tissue; however, this method has been overused during the past decade. The present study aimed to investigate the appropriateness of coronary angiography in the patients referred to the selected hospital clinics in Shiraz, Iran.

METHODS: This study included 280 outpatients who were referred to seven selected hospitals of Shiraz for coronary angiography. In order to collect the data regarding the patients and the angiography use, a questionnaire and a checklist were utilized. All the analyses were performed in SPSS, version 15.

RESULTS: Among 280 angiography cases, 206 (73.6%), 34 (12.2%), and 40 (14.3%) cases were considered as appropriate, uncertain, and inappropriate, respectively. Due to the 40 cases of inappropriate use of angiography, 19000 US dollars have been imposed on the insurance organizations as well as the patients.

CONCLUSION: Senior managers of healthcare centers are recommended to pay special attention to the performance of diagnostic as well as therapeutic procedures according to the reliable and standard guidelines. Besides, insurance organizations and other institutes which reimburse the expenses should consider the appropriateness of application of angiography as a basis for the imbursement.