Study Shows Dramatic Decrease in Hospitalizations and Deaths From Heart Disease and Stroke in Last Decade

August 18, 2014—The American Heart Association (AHA) announced the publication of a study showing that hospitalizations and deaths from heart disease and stroke in the United States have dropped significantly in the last decade. The study by Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, et al is available online ahead of print in the AHA’s Circulation.

In the “most comprehensive report card to date” on America’s progress in heart disease and stroke prevention and treatment, investigators collected data on approximately 34 million Medicare Fee-For-Service recipients from 1999 to 2011. They analyzed trends in rates of hospitalization, death within 1 month of being admitted, readmission within 1 month, and death during the following year. They also considered patient factors including age, sex, race, other illnesses, and geographic location.

By the end of 2011, hospitalization rates among all races and areas decreased by 38% for heart attack, 83.8% for unstable angina, 30.5% for heart failure, and 33.6% for ischemic stroke. The mortality risk for those who went back to the hospital within a year decreased approximately 21% for unstable angina, 23% for heart attacks, and 13% for heart failure and stroke.

In the AHA press release, Dr. Krumholz commented, “Interestingly, these improvements happened in a period when there were no real ‘miracle’ clinical advancements. Rather, we saw consistent improvements in the use of evidence-based treatments and medications and an increase in quality improvement initiatives using registries and other data to track performance and support improvement efforts—as well as a strong emphasis on heart-healthy lifestyles and behaviors.”

He added, “Huge strides in lifestyle, quality-of-care, and prevention strategies for cardiovascular health have seemed to have a ripple effect on saving lives. As a result, our country has undergone remarkable changes, which has reduced suffering and costs.”

Dr. Krumholz, who is Director of the Center of Outcomes Research and Evaluation at Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut, noted that other significant contributions included improvements in identifying and treating high blood pressure, a rapid rise in the use of statins, marked declines in smoking, and more timely and appropriate treatment for heart attack patients.

“There is still more work to do as heart disease and stroke combined remain the leading cause of death and disability, but this study documents astonishing progress and national achievement,” concluded Dr. Krumholz.