Aboriginal to non-Aboriginal differentials in 2-year outcomes following non-fatal first-ever acute MI persist after adjustment for comorbidity:

Background: We investigated the relationship between Aboriginality and 2-year cardiovascular disease outcomes in non-fatal first-ever myocardial infarction during 2000⊟04, with progressive adjustment of covariates, including comorbidities.Design: Historical cohort study.Methods: Person-linked hospital and mortality records were used to identify 28-day survivors of first-ever myocardial infarction in Western Australia during 2000⊟04 with 15-year lookback. The outcome measures were: (1) cardiovascular disease death; (2) recurrent admission for myocardial infarction; and (3) the composite of (1) and (2).Results: Compared with non-Aboriginal patients, Aboriginals were younger and more likely to live remotely. The proportions having 5-year histories of diabetes and chronic kidney disease were double and triple those of non-Aboriginals. When adjusting for demographic variables alone, the Aboriginal to non-Aboriginal hazard ratios for cardiovascular death or recurrent myocardial infarction were 3.6 (95% CI 2.5–5...