A new analysis credits improved treatment and reduction in risk factors about equally.
U.S. death rates from cardiovascular disease have declined markedly in recent decades. To clarify the cause of the decline, CDC investigators sought to determine the contributions of various factors to the changes in death rates.
From 1980 to 2000, in individuals aged 25 to 84, the age-adjusted rate of coronary heart disease fell from 542.9 to 266.8 cases per 100,000 in men, and from 263.3 to 134.4 cases per 100,000 in women. The authors estimate that this decline resulted in the prevention of 341,745 deaths during this period.
The investigators estimated that 159,330 of the prevented deaths were attributable to medical or surgical therapies, of which secondary-prevention medications or rehabilitation contributed the greatest proportion. Trea…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardUnited Healthcare; Element Science; Eyedentifeye, F-Prime
EquityHugo Health; Refactor Health; Element Science
Grant/Research SupportPfizer; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; Janssen Research and Development, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Engineering; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Cancer Institute; American Heart Association
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardUnited Healthcare; Element Science; Eyedentifeye, F-Prime
EquityHugo Health; Refactor Health; Element Science
Grant/Research SupportPfizer; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; Janssen Research and Development, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Engineering; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Cancer Institute; American Heart Association