Trends of AMI Hospital Admissions, In-hospital and One-year Post-discharge All-cause Mortalities Among Jews and Bedouins (2002-2012) – Population Based Study

Background: differences in presentation and worse outcomes following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Israeli Bedouins/Arabs were reported. This study compared the trends of AMI admission, in-hospital (IHM) and annual all-cause post-discharge mortality of hospital survivors (PDM) in Bedouins versus Jews.

Methods: a retrospective analysis of 10652 consecutive AMI patients (1206 [11.3%] Bedouins and 9446 [88.7%] Jews) in a Soroka Medical Center throughout 2002-2012. The trends of hospital admissions were compared using direct age- and sex- adjustment, based on the global statistical data. The trends of IHM and PDM were adjusted for the patients’ characteristics.

Results: Bedouins presented at younger age (61.7±14.2 vs. 68.8±13.7), higher rate of males (70.2% vs. 65.7.3%), smoking (55.3% vs. 34.6%) and diabetes mellitus (42.0% vs. 36.4%) and lower prevalence of hypertension (44.5% vs. 53.2%) and renal diseases (29.0% vs. 42.5%) compared to Jews. Higher rate of STEMI (57% vs. 49%) and PCI (65.3% vs. 54.6%) were found while lower rate of 3-vessel disease (33.1% vs. 44.3%) in Bedouins vs. Jews (p

Conclusions: Throughout 2002-2012 significant temporal decline in adjusted incidence of AMI, greater in Bedouins than for Jews was found, IHM declined significantly only among Jews and PDM increased in both groups. A culturally sensitive program focusing on primary and secondary prevention is warranted.