Report: Heart Disease, Strokes in Decline

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the US. But a new study finds that hospitalizations and deaths from the condition - as well as from stroke - have declined in the last decade.

The research team - led by Dr. Harlan Krumholz, director of the Center of Outcomes Research and Evaluation at Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, CT - recently published their findings in the journal Circulation.

To reach their findings, Dr. Krumholz and colleagues analyzed data of almost 34 million people who received Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) between 1999 and 2011.

Using this information, the researchers assessed trends in hospitalization rates, death rates within a month of hospital admission, rates of readmission within a month of hospital discharge, and risk of death within 12 months of visiting the hospital.

Results of their analysis revealed that hospitalization rates for heart attack declined by 38% during the 12-year period, while risk of death from heart attack within 12 months of visiting the hospital reduced by 23%.