The analysis of waiting time and utilization of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in Croatia: a nationwide survey

Aim To assess the variation in the waiting time for diagnostic imaging (DI) services among Croatian public hospitals and the utilization of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners. Methods We analyzed aggregated data from public hospitals. Counties were classified according to economic strength, and utilization was expressed as the average number of exams per machine. We compared the waiting times for 2018 and utilization for 2015 according to hospital category (high and low level) and economic strength by county. Results The waiting time was longer for MRI compared with CT, 268 vs 77.61 days. Overall CT waiting time was in the unfavorable European Health Consumer Index category. High-level hospitals had longer waiting time for MRI and CT. The waiting time positively correlated with economic strength for MRI (P = 0.019), but not for CT. In low-level hospitals, MRI utilization ranged from 104 to 6032, whereas CT utilization ranged from 48 to 17 852. In high-level hospitals, MRI utilization ranged from 3846 to 11 026, while CT utilization ranged from 503 to 17 234. CT (P = 0.041) and MRI (P = 0.031) utilization in high-level hospitals was significantly higher than in low-level hospitals. Conclusion The waiting times for CT and MRI were exceptionally long regardless of the hospital category, with highly varying utilization. Croatia performed more exams per scanner compared with other EU countries, but not significantly so. High-level hospitals' utilization was significantly higher than that of low-level hospitals, and CT utilization was significantly higher than EU average, while the difference for MRI utilization was not significant.