Research on death rates and what drives them. Covers cancer-linked stroke, COVID underreporting, hemoglobin levels, and education and survival.
Researchers found a 4.2% increase in heart-related deaths during the Christmas period, with average age of cardiac death being 76.2 years. The study suggests that patients may hold back seeking medical care due to travel, geographic isolation, and emotional stress associated with holidays.
A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that states with medical marijuana laws experienced an 11% reduction in traffic fatalities, with the greatest impact on drivers aged 15-24 and 25-44. Dispensaries were also associated with a significant reduction in traffic fatalities among this age group.
A study published in JAMA Network found that hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries treated by female internists had lower rates of 30-day mortality and hospital readmission compared to those treated by male physicians. Female physicians were more likely to adhere to clinical guidelines and provide preventive care.
A new study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reveals substantial geographic differences in mortality rates from substance abuse, mental disorders, and other causes of death. The US death rate nearly tripled since 1980, with over 2,000 counties witnessing increases of 200% or more.
Researchers have created a locally feasible method to estimate maternal mortality rates, providing insights into the effectiveness of local interventions. The approach has shown improved reproductive health and reduced pregnancy-related deaths in the Tigray region.
Global breast cancer mortality rates declined between 1987-2013, with 39 countries showing a decrease, including the US and most developed European nations. However, South Korea experienced an 83% increase, while Latin America saw scattered increases in mortality, except for Argentina and Chile.
Researchers at CU Anschutz Medical Campus found a correlation between hospital handoffs and increased mortality rates. The study analyzed data from 2008 to 2014 and found an absolute increase of 1.5-1.9% in hospital mortality rates among patients exposed to end-of-rotation transitions in care.
The study confirms that cardiorespiratory fitness is a stronger predictor of mortality than established risk factors such as smoking and hypertension. Higher levels of CRF are associated with improved outcomes for certain forms of cancer, surgical risk, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, depression and Type 2 diabetes.
Researchers found that patients treated with rituximab as their first biologic had a lower mortality risk compared to those treated with TNFi. The study included 353 patients with RA-ILD and analyzed five-year mortality rates, with RTX-treated patients showing numerically lower but not statistically significant risks.
Researchers found that costly ecological impact assessments failed to protect bats from fatal collisions with spinning blades. The study highlights the challenge of establishing with certainty the effect of major developments before they occur.
A study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that radiologists who compare prior mammograms with more than one image have better true-positive outcomes and fewer false-positives. This reduction in recall rates can lead to a decrease in anxiety, radiation exposure, biopsies, and healthcare costs for patients.
A new study shows that implementing the WHO Trauma Care Checklist Programme at hospitals worldwide led to substantial improvements in injury care, with increased consistency of care and reduced mortality among severely injured patients. The checklist is a simple tool emphasizing key life-saving elements of initial injury care.
Current system may not detect outliers in surgeon performance, as low caseloads limit statistical power to identify high mortality rates. The analysis suggests that more meaningful outcome measures, such as patient satisfaction and functional health status, are needed for accurate evaluation.
This research analyzes the 2010 Chile and 2011 New Zealand earthquakes that caused significant damage to reinforced concrete buildings. The study highlights key factors contributing to structural failure, including flexural compression failure, tension-compression failure, and plan/elevation irregularities.
A new analysis suggests that Medicare's current system is misaligned, penalizing hospitals for low readmission rates while allowing high mortality rates. The researchers propose a revised incentive structure that would incentivize both good outcomes and patient survival.
Researchers mapped under-5 mortality rates across 28 African countries using data from 82 US Agency for International Development surveys. They found local-level factors like climate and malaria exposure were predictive of child mortality.
Researchers found that states with higher unrestrained child rates and rural roads had higher mortality rates. A 10% improvement in child restraint use nationally could prevent over 1,500 child deaths over five years.
Rural Appalachia faces alarming disparities in cancer care, including higher mortality rates, late diagnoses, and limited access to comprehensive treatment. The region has seen a decline in cancer incidence nationwide, but its cancer death rate has increased, with rural residents facing significantly worse outcomes.
Researchers found no significant increase in mortality rates over weekends when severity is accounted for. A higher proportion of patients admitted by ambulance had more severe conditions, contradicting previous studies that showed a 'weekend effect'.
A study found that sepsis mortality rates are highest in regions with few trained intensivists, highlighting the need for increased critical care training programs. The authors suggest promoting critical care training and incentives to improve outcomes.
A recent study analyzed data on 1,500 plane crashes and found that a death toll of around 50 is the minimum threshold for predicting significant levels of public interest. The research also showed that location, media coverage, and other factors influence article views, highlighting biases in Wikipedia's 'sum of human knowledge'.
The Global Burden of Disease study 2015 found that life expectancy has risen globally, but 70% of deaths are now due to non-communicable diseases. The study analyzed 249 causes of death, 315 diseases and injuries, and 79 risk factors in 195 countries and territories between 1990 and 2015.
A new Global Burden of Diseases study reveals that while improvements in sanitation and nutrition have led to longer lifespans, significant health challenges like obesity, high blood sugar, and alcohol abuse threaten progress. The study shows that many countries face health challenges despite income growth and education increases.
Patients with septic shock who experience bradycardia (lower heart rate) have a 21% lower mortality rate compared to those without. A 13% decrease in mortality risk was observed among patients with average lower heart rates below 80 beats per minute.
Patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement are at increased risk of developing infective endocarditis, with younger age, male sex, and diabetes mellitus being significant risk factors. The study found a high rate of in-hospital mortality and 2-year mortality rates, highlighting the need for preventive measures.
Global trends show a decline in ovarian cancer deaths in the EU and USA between 2002 and 2012, with declines also seen in Australia and New Zealand. The main reason is the use of oral contraceptives, which provide long-term protection against ovarian cancer.
An analysis of a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial found osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) reduced length of hospital stay and lowered in-hospital mortality rates for elderly pneumonia patients. OMT was associated with improved outcomes, particularly in the subgroup with the highest severity of illness.
Increasing ocean acidification could double the mortality of newly-hatched cod larvae, potentially decreasing recruitment by one quarter to one twelfth of previous levels. This would put fisheries under pressure if exploitation remains unchanged.
A recent study by Boston University School of Medicine found that US maternal mortality rates are significantly higher than previously reported, with an estimated rate of 23.8 per 100,000 live births in 2014. The study highlights the need to improve maternity care and prevent maternal deaths in the US.
Researchers measured the resting metabolic rate of a lactating sea otter mother, revealing a significant increase in energy demands after giving birth. This finding suggests that sea otters may be accumulating fat reserves before milk production to cope with the high costs of rearing their young.
A recent study found that the overall incidence of type 2 diabetes has stabilised over recent years, while mortality rates have declined, suggesting that increased prevalence may be attributed to longer survival. The findings suggest significant differences based on gender, age, and socioeconomic status.
A study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that India's official statistics significantly underreport pedestrian and motorcycle deaths, suggesting a much higher number than reported. The researchers recommend using police reports instead of government data for research and policy decisions.
A study analyzed Medicare beneficiaries and found that admission to primary stroke centers (PSCs) was associated with lower seven-day and 30-day death rates. However, longer travel times of at least 90 minutes to PSCs appeared to offset any benefit of care there.
According to research published in Injury Prevention, black Americans were more likely to be stopped and arrested than whites, yet no more likely to be injured or killed. The study found that excess death rates among blacks and youth reflect exposure to excessive police force.
A new study published in Radiology found that radiologists who graduated after 1940 do not face an increased risk of dying from radiation-related causes like cancer. The researchers attributed the reduction in health risks to improvements in radiation protection and monitoring, as well as advancements in equipment safety.
A new study found that recurrent diabetic ketoacidosis is associated with substantial mortality, particularly among young, socially disadvantaged adults with type 1 diabetes. The median age at death was just 32 in patients with 5 or more DKA admissions compared to 53 in those with fewer admissions.
Trauma researchers emphasize the importance of increased funding to develop evidence-based interventions and enhance disaster preparedness. The US is experiencing a surge in mass casualty events, including natural disasters and gun violence incidents.
Recent national trends in US death rates show a deceleration of decline in cardiovascular deaths, with heart disease mortality rates slowing down between 2000-2014. Cancer mortality rates remained relatively stable during this period.
A Kaiser Permanente study found national heart disease and stroke mortality rates slowing down since 2011, with some experts attributing the decline to increases in obesity and diabetes, which may be driving a recent slowdown.
A recent study by MIT researchers found that the public takes a utilitarian approach to autonomous vehicle safety, minimizing casualties in extreme situations but prioritizing personal safety. This 'social dilemma' may lead to conditions becoming less safe for everyone as individuals act in their own self-interest.
A study published in JAMA found that firearm injury severity and in-hospital fatality rates have increased over the past two decades. From 2000 to 2013, the number of severe firearm injuries per patient rose significantly, resulting in higher death rates.
Larval fish exposed to microplastic particles displayed changed behaviors, such as ignoring natural food sources and failing to respond to predators. This led to increased mortality rates and potentially severe consequences for marine ecosystems.
A NIH-funded study found that blacks between 45-54 die of strokes at a rate three times greater than whites due to higher incidence, not worse outcomes. Improved stroke prevention measures, such as controlling hypertension and diabetes, are crucial in reducing racial disparities.
Studies found that patients undergoing surgery at critical access hospitals had lower heart failure, diabetes, obesity, and co-existing disease rates. Adjusted Medicare expenditures were also lower at these hospitals, with no significant difference in 30-day mortality rates or complication risks compared to non-critical access hospitals.
A retrospective study of 32,760 ICU patients found that nighttime extubations were associated with higher mortality rates compared to daytime extubations. Patients who underwent overnight extubations were more likely to have cardiovascular diagnoses and experienced longer hospital stays.
Researchers found that patients with low aortic valve gradient and severe left ventricular dysfunction have higher mortality rates after TAVR. However, patients with this profile should still be considered for the procedure due to improved quality of life for those who remain alive one year post-procedure.
A new study published by Yale School of Medicine researchers found that heart attack rates are trending down nationwide, but lower-income communities continue to experience higher hospitalization rates for acute myocardial infarction. Despite similar declines in heart attack rates across all income levels, low-income communities have n...
Babies born with low birthweight are at a higher risk of death from infancy through to adolescence compared to those born at normal weight. The research found that death rates were 130 times more frequent in very low birthweight infants, highlighting the importance of targeting factors contributing to low birthweights.
A population study found that low birthweight babies had increased death rates from infancy to adolescence, with causes including perinatal events and congenital malformations. The study suggests focusing on upstream events to prevent low birthweight remains an important health goal.
A review of over 1.5 million people found that daily meat consumption, especially red and processed meat, increases all-cause mortality. The study recommends limiting animal products and consuming more plants to promote preventive care.
A Johns Hopkins study suggests that over 250,000 deaths per year in the US are due to medical error. The researchers advocate for updated criteria for classifying deaths on death certificates to better reflect reality.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Surgery found that emergency surgery patients in lower-income countries have a significantly higher mortality rate. The study monitored 10,745 patients and found death rates were three times higher in low-income countries despite adjustment for prognostic factors.
A new Canadian study finds that people recently released from correctional facilities have a risk of dying from a drug overdose 56 times greater than the general population. The life expectancy of this group is also significantly shorter, by 10.6 years for women and 4.2 years for men.
Recent studies show a decrease in mortality rates among children and young adults in the poorest US counties, with improved healthcare, food, and nutrition programs likely contributing to these reductions. Life expectancy at birth differs by poverty level, with richer counties showing stronger increases.
New research reveals that US areas with high drug-overdose death rates are not always associated with high drug trafficking, contrary to expectations. Despite this, Western Pennsylvania and other regions like southern Michigan and eastern Ohio experienced rapid growth in overdose deaths nationwide.
A study using Swedish registry information found that individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) experience excess mortality, with both predisposition and AUD itself contributing to the risk. The study suggests that interventions targeting AUD could lead to reduced mortality rates among those affected.
A study of 108,630 women found that living near areas with high levels of green vegetation was associated with lower mortality rates, particularly from kidney disease, respiratory disease, and cancer. The researchers attributed this to improved mental health, social engagement, physical activity, and reduced air pollution.
A nationwide study found that women living in homes surrounded by more vegetation had a 12% lower overall mortality rate and stronger associations with reduced respiratory disease and cancer mortality. Improved mental health was estimated to explain nearly 30% of the benefit from living around greater vegetation.
Researchers analyzed over 7,000 patient encounters with severe sepsis or septic shock, finding that 68% of patients without shock did not receive an ICD diagnosis code. Patients assigned codes had a higher mortality rate, ICU admission rate, and hospital length of stay compared to those identified by clinical criteria alone.
US heart disease death rates have declined overall since the 1970s, but there are significant differences in rates among US counties, with weaker declines found south of the Mason-Dixon Line. The study's findings emphasize the importance of geography for heart disease prevention and treatment, suggesting that social and economic condit...