Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol, affect many Canadians. Cardiovascular diseases cause the narrowing of the coronary arteries-the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscles. It is a big cause of hospitalization in Canada. Patients older than 65 years of age are mainly affected. Two common procedures used to treat cardiovascular diseases are percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass grafting. These procedures help to unblock the arteries so that the heart can once again receive oxygen. However, discriminatory practices such as gender, place of residence (geography), ethnic discrimination, or socioeconomic status are preventing fair access to treatment choices. My research will look at how these discriminatory practices influence access to care, treatment choice, and death. I will use a large health records database to study a group of patients older than 65 years of age, with cardiovascular diseases that have undergone either one of the two available procedures. I will measure the number of patients with cardiovascular diseases per geographic region in the group that I created over a specified period. I will use postal code information or Local Community Service Centers region as the place of residence in Quebec. The result of my analysis will allow patients to have access to cardiovascular disease treatment in a fair, transparent, and equitable manner. My research will provide much-needed data and resolve current uncertainties to help advise clinical and administrative decision-makers.