Following a period of reduction, the gap in life expectancy at birth between Arabs and Jews in Israel has started to widen. These findings indicate the need for increased attention to primary prevention and disease management in the Arab population. Reducing social and individual risk factors for major causes of death should be a national priority.

BackgroundWe investigated national trends in volume and outcomes of percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and ischemic heart disease–related mortality in Israel.Methods and ResultsUsing International Classification of Diseases 9th and 10th revision codes, we linked 5 Israeli national databases, including the Israel Center for Disease Control National PCI and CABG Registries, the Ministry of Health Hospitalization Report, the Center of Bureau of Statistics, and the Ministry of Interior Mortality Report, to assess the annual PCI and CABG volume, procedural mortality, comorbidities, and ischemic heart disease‐related mortality between 2002 and 2014. Trends over time were analyzed using linear regression, assuming a Poisson distribution. A total of 298 390 revascularization procedures (PCI: 255 724, CABG: 42 666) were performed during the study period. PCI volume increased by 9% from 2002 to 2008 (387.4/100 000 to 423.2/100 000), steadily decreasing by 10.5% to 378.5/100 000 in 2014 (P=0.70 for the trend). CABG volume decreased by 59% (109.0/100 000 to 45.2/100 000) from 2002 to 2013, leveling at 46.4/100 000 (P<0.0001). PCI/CABG ratio increased from 3.6 in 2002 to 8.5 in 2013, slightly decreasing to 8.2 by 2014 (P<0.0001). In‐hospital procedural mortality remained stable (PCI: 1.2–1.6%, P=0.34, CABG: 3.7–4.4%, P=0.29) despite a significant change in patient clinical profile. During the course of the study, ischemic heart disease‐related mortality decreased by 46% (84.6–46/100 000, P<0.001).ConclusionsWe observed a dramatic change in coronary revascularization procedures type and volume, and a marked decrease in ischemic heart disease‐related mortality in Israel. The reasons for the observed changes remain unclear and need to be further investigated.