Abstract
Use of Cardiac Imaging in Canada—Missing the Trees for the Forest
Highlights
Braga et al[2] found that the proportion of patients receiving 1 or more echocardiograms annually increased over time and that there was a slight decrease in the interval between repeated echocardiograms over time
The findings by Braga et al[2] mirror the rapid increase and decrease in the rate of growth of diagnostic cardiovascular imaging in the United States,[3,4] and available evidence suggests that this trajectory occurred as a result of a complex interplay between patients, clinicians, payers, and health care systems.[5]
Braga et al[2] found that the use of echocardiography for patients with heart failure increased rapidly until 2011, but we do not know whether the growth was due to changes in beneficial testing or testing that provides minimal patient benefit
Summary
Braga et al[2] found that the proportion of patients receiving 1 or more echocardiograms annually increased over time and that there was a slight decrease in the interval between repeated echocardiograms over time. The findings by Braga et al[2] mirror the rapid increase and decrease in the rate of growth of diagnostic cardiovascular imaging in the United States,[3,4] and available evidence suggests that this trajectory occurred as a result of a complex interplay between patients, clinicians, payers, and health care systems.[5] Descriptive studies of imaging trends such as the one by Braga et al[2] provide important information on real-world changes in the use of cardiac imaging services and costs, but they have 2 main limitations.
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