Research on death rates and what drives them. Covers cancer-linked stroke, COVID underreporting, hemoglobin levels, and education and survival.
Research found that SLE Medicaid patients have a double 30-day death rate after coronary revascularization compared to diabetes patients, highlighting the need for further investigation into cardiovascular disease and overall health status in SLE patients.
A study by Washington State University researchers shows a decline in new cases of heart disease among American Indians over a 25-year period. Fewer Native men are dying from heart-disease-related events, while overall prevalence of heart disease has decreased more in women.
Tyler Fricker's study analyzed nationwide tornado casualty data to identify high-risk regions and community-level factors influencing casualties. The results suggest that regional susceptibility to high-casualty events is more complex than previously thought, with factors beyond mobile home ownership and low income contributing to high...
A retrospective study suggests that ED physicians are improving both outcomes and efficiency of care, with mortality rates declining by 23% from 2009 to 2016. This improvement occurred despite increasing ED utilization, as fewer patients were admitted to the hospital and more were sent home, leading to nearly 200,000 fewer deaths in 2016.
Researchers analyzed 30-day mortality rates following ED visits, finding a significant increase in deaths among elderly patients. The study used Medicare data from 2009 to 2016 and found that the 30-day death rate for emergency department visits increased significantly during this period.
A new study reveals that lower respiratory infections (LRIs) are responsible for one in seven child deaths worldwide. Since 1990, vaccines, improved nutrition, and better indoor air quality have substantially reduced LRI deaths, but progress has lagged behind other childhood infectious diseases.
A recent study using a large German dataset reveals that good education and high income can reduce mortality rates, while unemployment increases the risk. The study highlights the importance of addressing socioeconomic factors to improve public health outcomes.
A systematic review suggests that published studies on burnout and patient care quality may exaggerate the magnitude of the effect. The review analyzed 145 study populations and found that many results were due to biases in measurement and analysis, leading to overestimation of the relationship between burnout and poor quality care.
A new review shows that Russia's decline in overall alcohol consumption has gone hand-in-hand with a parallel decrease in the country's mortality rates. The study analyzed data on death rates, cause of death, life expectancy, and beer sales to find this correlation. Government policies, including restrictions on hours of sale, minimum ...
A new study suggests that a nuclear war between India and Pakistan could result in 50-125 million deaths, with temperatures potentially dropping by up to 9 degrees Fahrenheit. The conflict could also lead to severe food shortages worldwide, affecting human populations higher on the food chain.
The breast cancer death rate has slowed in recent years, but the gap between black and white women remains significant. Breast cancer incidence rates have continued to rise, with a greater increase seen in hormone receptor-positive disease.
A new study found that racial/ethnic mortality rate disparities have been widening since 2009, especially among infants and children. The study's findings suggest that addressing the root causes of these disparities is crucial to regaining lost ground and achieving health equity.
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita had a significant impact on the mortality rate of seniors with diabetes, even ten years later. Those who lived in affected areas experienced a 40% higher one-month mortality rate compared to unaffected counties.
A recent study analyzed deaths associated with ibrutinib and identified several cardiovascular toxicities, including supraventricular arrhythmias and heart failure. The study highlights the need to improve management of patients taking this drug, which has a higher death rate compared to chemotherapy.
A study found that mortality rates among Ebola survivors after hospital discharge were five times higher than expected in the general population. Those who stayed longer in treatment units had a higher mortality rate due to prolonged acute forms of the disease.
A new study measures life expectancy based on historical mortality conditions, revealing Australian men live to 74.1 years, surpassing other countries like Japan and the Nordic nations. This achievement is attributed to Australia's long history of stability and high standard of living, which have contributed to better health outcomes.
A recent study found that under-five mortality rates in India remain high among scheduled caste and tribe populations, with significant gaps between well-off and deprived castes. The researchers identified key factors contributing to these disparities, including educational attainment of women and household wealth.
A new study from Ryerson University assesses the link between premature mortality and environmental, socioeconomic, and demographic characteristics in Toronto's 140 neighborhoods. Neighborhoods with fewer trees, lower cancer screening rates, higher pollution levels, and lower income tend to have higher premature mortality rates.
A Rutgers University study found that police violence is a leading cause of death among young men in the US, with black men facing a significantly higher risk of being killed by law enforcement. The study highlights the need for better tracking and analysis of police-related deaths to inform policy reforms.
A study analyzing 2013-2018 data found that Black men had the highest fatality risk from police violence, with a rate of 1 fatality for every 1,000 black male births. Racial disparities also affected female fatalities, with American Indian and Latina women facing increased risks compared to white counterparts
Research finds heart disease and stroke mortality rates are barely declining or increasing in 12 high-income countries since 2000. Obesity levels may be a significant contributor to the slowdown.
A study of individuals over 65 years old found that low appendicular muscle mass significantly increased all-cause mortality risk nearly 63-fold in women and 11.4-fold in men. The researchers used DXA body composition analysis to determine the correlation between body composition factors and mortality risk.
Research analyzed mortality rates among 10,451 MLB players from 1906 to 2006, finding differences in death rates by position and career length. Longer playing careers were associated with lower cardiovascular-related deaths but increased cancer deaths.
A study led by University of Pittsburgh researchers found that implementing a state-mandated sepsis regulation in New York resulted in a significant drop in death rates from sepsis, with a 4.3% decrease compared to control states. The policy requires hospitals to quickly implement certain protocols when sepsis is suspected.
A WVU study found that only folic acid and omega-3 supplements showed promise in reducing cardiovascular risk. Eating less salt was also beneficial for overall survival and cardiovascular mortality rates. However, the quality of evidence supporting other supplements and diets was considered low due to methodological issues.
A new study published in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine found that implementing permit-only access to Half Dome cable handrails did not result in a significant reduction in hiker safety or search and rescue activity. In fact, the number of incidents and fatalities remained similar before and after the restrictions were implemented.
A study by Columbia University researchers found that limiting ovarian cancer surgery to high-volume hospitals could improve survival but also reduce access for many rural and underserved patients. In fact, nearly 35% of low-volume hospitals had better-than-expected outcomes at 60 days and 51% at 2 years.
Bariatric surgery patients are nearly triple as likely to die from drug- and alcohol-related causes compared to the general public. Fewer than half of those who died had triggered a safety protocol for problematic substance use.
Expanding Medicaid eligibility was associated with lower cardiovascular mortality rates, particularly among adults aged 45-64. Counties in expansion states saw a significant reduction in cardiovascular deaths compared to non-expansion states.
Death rates from falls for US adults 75 or older rose significantly from 2000 to 2016, with a 128% increase in absolute deaths and a 131% increase in death rates per 100,000 people. This trend was observed across different age groups, particularly among men aged 75-79 and women aged 95 or older.
A new study by University of Warwick Medical School challenges the common assumption that higher mortality rates for weekend hospital admissions reflect lower quality care. The study found that patients admitted on weekends are sicker at admission and have more urgent problems, contributing to the higher mortality risk.
A study analyzing mortality risks among pro athletes found elevated risks of death from cardiac and neurodegenerative diseases in football players compared to baseball players. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests the existence of sport-specific disease mechanisms that mandate further investigation.
A new laboratory-based method, LIVE score, predicts outcomes for COPD patients and identifies those at high risk of death or disease advancement. The study found that patients with high-risk scores had the highest one-year mortality rates and palliative care referrals.
Despite great progress in reducing under-five mortality rates, India still has a long way to go to meet the UN MDG target of 39 deaths per 1,000 live births. Infectious diseases such as pneumonia and meningitis account for a significant proportion of child deaths.
The University of Illinois Chicago will launch a program using community health workers, social workers, and doulas to improve health outcomes for pregnant women and their children in historically underserved neighborhoods. Maternal mortality rates are disproportionately high among black women, prompting the initiative.
A study by Bocconi University researchers found that hospitals with more open cultures have lower mortality rates, as staff are encouraged to report errors and take action. The results suggest that reforms in the English NHS since 2016 are on the right track.
Death rates due to heart failure are increasing among younger adults under 65, with black men under age 65 facing the largest increase in premature death. The study found that an estimated 6 million adults in the US have heart failure, which is the number one reason older adults are admitted to hospital.
A new study found that pediatric opioid deaths increased nearly 3-fold over 18 years, with the Midwest experiencing a four-fold increase and the West a two-fold increase. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the growing public health problem of fatal pediatric opioid poisonings.
A recent study examines the alarming rise in firearm fatalities among US children, particularly those from marginalized communities. The research found that public health approaches must consider underlying demographic trends to effectively address this issue.
Death rates from drug poisoning in American adolescents and young adults rose significantly over the last decade, mainly fueled by opioid-related deaths. The estimated costs of these deaths were $27.1 million in medical costs, $8.5 billion in work loss costs, and $26.5 billion for quality-of-life loss in 2015.
A new study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that nearly half of older adults who start dialysis die within a year, with death rates being almost twice as high as previously reported statistics. The study's results can help inform patient decisions and physician choice of treatment for end-stage kidney disease.
A study published in the British Journal of Surgery found that hospital deaths after surgery dropped by a third in Scotland following the introduction of surgical safety checklists. The decrease was observed only in patients undergoing operations, not those treated for medical conditions.
A new study highlights the significant risk posed by bloodstream infections (BSIs), which are associated with a much higher mortality rate compared to the general hospitalised population. The research found that certain species of microorganisms, such as Acinetobacter and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), were linked ...
Two independent studies found high rates of liver disease progression and mortality among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH), highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment to prevent progression and reduce mortality. Advanced liver diseases progressed in up to 11% o...
Rising liver cancer death rates in the US are largely confined to individuals with lower educational attainment, particularly men. The study highlights the need for targeted efforts to address the growing burden of liver cancer in lower socioeconomic groups.
Researchers found counties in expansion states had about four fewer deaths from heart disease per hundred thousand residents compared to non-expansion states. This translates to approximately 1,800 fewer deaths per year in areas that expanded Medicaid coverage under the ACA.
A Danish register-based study found that women over 65 have a 25-30% higher mortality rate from cervical cancer than previously thought. This age group is not covered by the country's screening program, leading to potentially late diagnoses and reduced treatment options.
Global prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates are decreasing or stabilizing, with the US experiencing a significant decline. The study highlights improvements in detection practices and treatment, but notes that PSA screening may contribute to diagnosis at later stages and higher mortality rates.
A study analyzing nearly 57,000 US military casualties found that the use of tourniquets, blood transfusions, and faster prehospital transport significantly reduced mortality. These interventions accounted for a large part of the increase in survival rates among critically injured soldiers.
A new UTSA study documents the war's casualty statistics, mortality trends, and treatment advances. Key findings include increased injury patterns and severity, as well as a significant reduction in mortality rates thanks to interventions such as tourniquets and rapid hospital transport times.
A new study found that improvements in property damage and casualties differ for fire departments with informal, formal, or contract-based collaborations. Formal contracts improve performance on goals firefighters are motivated to achieve, but may negatively impact motivation for other important goals.
Breast cancer death rates are predicted to fall in all EU countries except Poland, where they will rise by 2%. The burden of the disease is expected to increase due to an aging population. Lung cancer remains the biggest killer in both sexes, with a predicted decrease in men's death rates.
Motor vehicle collisions involving moose are 13 times more likely to result in human fatalities compared to deer crashes, a study found. The study analyzed data from northern New England and noted that moose-motor vehicle crashes often involve head, neck, and face injuries due to the animal's massive size and weight.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that most countries in sub-Saharan Africa are not reducing under-5 mortality rates at a sufficient pace. The authors used demographic data from 31 countries and predicted that only Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Senegal will meet the under-5 mortality target by 2030.
A new study of macaque monkeys found that shorter birth intervals are associated with higher mortality rates in offspring. The research suggests a biological link between birth intervals and offspring mortality, consistent with previous studies on human birth intervals.
A mass measles vaccination campaign in India saved an estimated 41,000 to 56,000 children's lives between 2010 and 2013, according to a study published in eLife. The campaigns significantly reduced child mortality rates in the affected districts, with mortality rates falling by 27% compared to non-campaign states.
A US-funded program aimed at reducing childbirth complications in Indonesia has prompted more efficient care, leading to significant reductions in maternal and newborn mortality. The Expanding Maternal and Neonatal Survival (EMAS) initiative improved quality of emergency obstetric and newborn care and referrals, resulting in a 50% decr...
A comprehensive analysis of over 60,000 surgical procedures found that overlapping surgeries do not significantly increase the risk of post-surgical complications and patient death in most cases. However, patients deemed high risk due to age and preexisting medical conditions, as well as those undergoing coronary artery bypass graft su...
The US opioid epidemic has rapidly shifted to the Eastern states, with synthetic opioids accounting for most recent deaths. The study found that eight states have highest rates of opioid-related deaths, with Florida and Pennsylvania experiencing doubling mortality rates every two years.
The study analyzed data on over 351,000 opioid-related deaths from 1999 to 2016, revealing a significant increase in mortality rates in the eastern United States. Synthetic opioids were found to be driving these increases, prompting policymakers to reconsider their strategies for reducing opioid-related deaths.