Coronary Artery Disease in the Thai Population: Data from Health Situation Analysis 2010
Songsak Kiatchoosakun MD*, Sumitr Sutra MD**, Kaewjai Thepsuthammarat PhD***
Affiliation : *Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ** Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand *** Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Background : The rate of cardiovascular disease marked by coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasing in low-middle
income countries including Thailand. The burden of CAD will have a significant impact on the healthcare system and the
national budget.
Objective : To identify the CAD-related hospitalization rate over one year, to determine in-hospital mortality in various
subgroups of patients with CAD and to examine the hospitalization costs of patients with CAD.
Material and Method: The data were extracted from in-patient discharge forms from the three main health insurance
schemes in Thailand for the fiscal year 2010 (October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010. The data included the three major health
insurance schemes which provided coverage for about 62 million people (96% of the population). Data regarding coronary
artery disease using the ICD-10 (I20-angina, I21-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and I25-chronic ischemic heart disease)
were extracted and analyzed for number of admissions, mortality rate, length of hospital stay and hospital charges.
Results : In 2010, the total admissions of patients with coronary artery disease were 22,507. The most common presentation
of CAD was angina pectoris (10,822 admissions) followed by AMI (6,391 admissions) and chronic ischemic heart disease
(5,294 admissions). The respective in-hospital mortality rates in patients admitted with AMI, chronic ischemic heart disease
and angina pectoris were 11.3%, 2.9% and 0.7%.
Conclusion : Thailand is entering a period of epidemiologic transition marked by an increase of cardiovascular disease and
hospital expenses dominated by cardiovascular disease. Information on the burden of CAD-indicates a need to improve
health care system.
Keywords : Coronary artery disease, Burden, Thais
