Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases remain one of the biggest public health challenges in Croatia, with coronary artery disease (CAD) being the most prevalent. The uneven development and concentration of healthcare facilities in urban areas suggest that rural regions are lagging in providing adequate healthcare. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of patients admitted to the General Hospital in Ogulin (Croatia) with CAD.
Methods: This quantitative, retrospective study included a total of 732 patients with a diagnosis of CAD who were treated between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2023. The data were extracted from the hospital information system. After data collection, statistical analysis was performed with a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results: CAD accounted for 2.2% of all patients treated during the study period. The results indicate a higher prevalence of CAD among men (56.6%) and individuals aged 60 years or older (76.1%). A clear seasonal pattern was observed, with a peak during the colder months from October to March (n = 462, 63.1%). Of all participants, 488 patients (66.7%) presented with acute coronary syndrome. Taking into account the fact that 58 patients with acute coronary syndrome died, the calculation shows that 66.9% of these patients were transferred to other medical centres.
Conclusions: The results of this study show that CAD is an important cause of hospitalisation in Ogulin General Hospital, especially in men and people over 60 years of age. A marked seasonal variation was observed, with the highest number of cases occurring in the colder months. The high prevalence of acute coronary syndrome and the need to transfer a significant number of patients to other centres demonstrate the limited diagnostic and therapeutic capacity of the regional hospital. At the same time, the fact that one-third of patients are not transferred highlights the importance of further expanding cardiology care in rural areas and of educational programs aimed at reducing healthcare inequalities and improving treatment outcomes.
