Articles tagged with Mortality Rates
A simple blood test taken at hospital admission can predict in-hospital mortality risk for heart failure patients, says UCLA researcher. Higher BNP levels are associated with higher mortality rates and other clinical outcomes such as mechanical ventilation and longer hospital stays.
Research published in the journal Heart found a significant link between performance league tables and lower death rates after coronary artery bypass surgery. The study analyzed data from almost 26,000 patients and showed that public disclosure of cardiac surgery outcome data led to improved patient outcomes.
A study by Purdue University researcher Dan Mroczek found that neurotic men whose levels dropped over time had a better chance at living longer. Those who were highly neurotic and grew worse over time died much sooner than their peers.
A study by researchers at the University of Bristol found that female woodhoopoes that started breeding later in life produced more offspring than those that started earlier. The researchers attributed this to a high mortality rate among young females, suggesting they were not yet in optimal condition to breed.
A new study reveals that recent declines in breast cancer mortality rates have been most significant among women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors and women younger than 70. These groups experienced a 38% decline in mortality from breast cancer, compared to a 19% decline for ER-negative tumors.
A multi-disciplinary panel of experts from eight countries examined emergency medical responses to blast events and identified commonalities that can be used to enhance preparedness worldwide. These findings highlight the importance of pre-defined command structures, regular triage guidelines, and effective scene security measures in r...
A new study details the devastating impact of a nuclear attack on American cities, including casualties from blast and radiation, and burn victims from massive fires. The researchers suggest simple interventions can save tens of thousands of lives.
A study of 46,993 patients found that hospital death rates ranged from 10% to 28%, with nursing staff levels and care map use associated with lower mortality rates. The study suggests that hospitals can reduce deaths by employing more registered nurses and implementing routine care maps or protocols.
A new study reveals that birds with larger brains relative to their body size have a lower mortality rate than those with smaller brains. The research supports the cognitive buffer hypothesis, which suggests that large brains enable animals to better cope with environmental challenges such as climate change and habitat destruction.
The London bombings on July 7, 2005, resulted in a large mass casualty event. Researchers found that the Royal London Hospital's Helicopter Emergency Medical Service achieved low over-triage rates, leading to a death rate among critically injured of 15%, lower than most previous terrorist mass casualty events.
A study found little difference in death rates for common conditions at high and low-performing hospitals, suggesting that current measures may not accurately predict patient outcomes. The authors call for more tightly linked measures to improve health care quality.
A new study finds that 93% of gorillas at the Lossi Sanctuary in Congo were killed by Ebola during outbreaks in 2002 and 2003. The research suggests that targeted vaccination strategies could be effective in controlling the spread of the disease, which has devastated ape populations in Africa.
A study of 44 patients with pulmonary embolism from illicit silicone injection found high fatality rates and severe complications. Transsexual males were disproportionately affected, highlighting the need for increased awareness and medical checks.
A recent study published in Tobacco Control found that halving daily cigarette consumption has no significant health benefits. Among the participants who cut back on their smoking, women actually had higher death rates from all causes combined than heavy smokers.
Medicaid patients are less likely to receive recommended cardiac care, including short-term medications and invasive procedures. They also have higher in-hospital mortality rates and are less likely to receive recommended discharge care. The study suggests that system problems and biases may contribute to these disparities.
A population-based study of 393 patients with rheumatoid arthritis found that they aged at approximately 1.25 times the rate of people in the general population. This accelerated aging was consistent with increased mortality rates among RA patients, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis and intervention to address total health.
African-American women have the highest mortality rate for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), according to a new study. The study found that racial disparities exist in IPAH mortality and morbidity, with African-American women exhibiting the highest mortality rate when compared with all other groups.
The HealthGrades 2007 hospital-quality study found a significant gap in patient outcomes between top-rated and poorly performing hospitals. The study analyzed 40.6 million Medicare records and revealed that mortality rates declined by nearly 8% across the nation, while the quality chasm between best and worst-performing hospitals grew ...
A new study estimates 655,000 more Iraqi deaths due to the 2003 invasion than expected in a non-conflict situation. The mortality rate doubled from 5.5 to 13.3 per 1000 people per year post-invasion.
A New Mexico study found a 29% increase in Sunday crashes and a 42% increase in alcohol-related crash fatalities since lifting the statewide ban on Sunday packaged alcohol sales. The study, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, analyzed data from 1990 to 2005.
A nationwide systematic screening program in Italy has shown a significant decline in sudden cardiovascular deaths among young athletes, with a 89% reduction in incidence rates. The study analyzed data from 1979 to 2004 and found that most cases of sudden death were due to previously unsuspected structural heart disease.
A new study published in Science estimates that at least 200,000 people have died in Darfur, far exceeding previous estimates of tens of thousands. The study's authors used primary surveys and extrapolation to arrive at this revised estimate, which underscores the urgency of the situation.
Researchers identified eight distinct regions in the US with varying life expectancies, with gaps between best-off and worst-off groups exceeding 15 years. Chronic diseases and injuries were found to be major contributors to these disparities.
A Swedish study found that pensioners who received regular home visits from health professionals had a mortality rate nearly half that of those without visits. The mortality rate increased after the visits ended.
In sub-Saharan Africa, AIDS deaths are disproportionately affecting health professionals, particularly nurses and clinical officers. The study found that over a decade, death would claim more of these healthcare workers than resignation or normal retirement due to the disease.
A study found that youth-onset type 2 diabetes is associated with a substantially increased risk of end-stage kidney disease and death between 25-55 years old. Participants with early-onset diabetes had a significantly higher incidence rate of kidney disease compared to those with older-onset diabetes.
A study published in Science found that Albertosaurus survived for two years with low mortality rates, but death rates increased after reaching teenage years. The research provides insight into the life patterns of tyrannosaurs and challenges previous theories about their behavior.
A study of nearly 600,000 deaths in men aged 35-69 years across four countries found that smoking-related diseases account for more than half of the disparity in death rates between rich and poor. The research highlights the importance of quitting smoking to narrow health inequalities.
Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) who are physically active have a significantly lower death rate than inactive individuals. A study published in Circulation found that higher physical activity levels are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and death in PAD patients.
A recent study found that hospital quality measures do not fully account for the variation in hospital death rates for heart attack patients. The study used data from over 962 hospitals and found moderate correlations between certain process measures, such as medication use, and patient outcomes.
A new scoring system can help determine which patients are at the lowest risk of dying after gastric bypass surgery. The system is based on five easy-to-identify patient characteristics and provides a standardized way to compare outcomes among centers performing the surgery.
A Healthgrades study found that women's cardiac and stroke outcomes improved by an average of 9.54% from 2002 to 2004, but hospital performance varies widely, with best-performing hospitals having a 40% lower mortality rate than poor performers
A study published in Anesthesia & Analgesia found that patients who received older blood during repeat open-heart procedures had a higher risk of death, kidney damage, and prolonged hospital stays. The researchers also found that the number of transfusions and duration of storage were independent predictors of long-term mortality.
A new study found significant racial disparities in seatbelt use among black and white motorists, with blacks less likely to wear seatbelts in states with secondary seatbelt laws. The study suggests that upgrading these laws to primary laws could eliminate the disparity and reduce motor vehicle crash-related injuries and deaths.
A new measure of heart rate deceleration capacity has been found to be a stronger predictor of mortality than traditional measures in patients who have had a heart attack. This alternative marker for wellbeing can detect high-risk patients even if current gold-standard measures fail.
A study of 940,000 adults found similar lung cancer death rates for men and women, but higher rates among African-American women. Never-smoking African-Americans may have a higher risk of lung cancer mortality compared to non-smoking whites.
A new study suggests that body mass index (BMI) standards for younger adults may not be appropriate for people in their 80s and 90s. The analysis found that those who were overweight had the lowest mortality rates, while being underweight led to higher mortality rates.
A UK hospital analysed the Shipman murders and added virtual deaths to their records to test the hospital's monitoring system. The study found that the system would have raised alarms in eight months for a surgeon and ten months for an anaesthetist, highlighting the need for robust local monitoring to prevent similar events.
Research suggests that women live longer than men due to the biological imperative of attracting mates, with males competing aggressively for female attention. This competition leads to riskier behavior and physiology, ultimately shortening male lifespans relative to females.
The Biodesign Institute developed a mobile, rapid assessment device to respond to potential bioterror threats using automated miniaturized lab-on-a-chip cartridges. A portable biodosimetry system was also designed for identifying radiation exposure in 'dirty bomb' victims.
A Penn State study found that perfectionist fathers can reinforce negative eating habits in their sons and daughters, which can lead to anorexia and other clinical illnesses. The researchers suggest that treating maladaptive eating disorders requires a focus on the patient's relational network, including communication with parents.
A new study by UC Davis Cancer Center researchers reveals that smoking is a significant contributor to cancer death rates among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The study found that non-lung cancer death rates correlate closely with smoke exposures, suggesting that eliminating smoking could lead to very low cancer mortality rates.
Researchers found that older men who drank moderately or heavily and had comorbidities worsened by alcohol use had a 20% higher mortality rate than other drinkers. The study also revealed that lower drinking thresholds should be recommended for older adults with specific conditions.
A new study published in JAMA found that women are at a higher risk of developing angina, a symptom of chest pain or discomfort due to insufficient oxygen supply to the heart muscle. Women with angina and diabetes are particularly at risk of experiencing high rates of death from heart disease
Research finds blood type and age may be pivotal in transfusion success. Blood transfusions are associated with a markedly increased risk of mortality in patients suffering from ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
A Joslin Diabetes Center study reveals insulin's critical role in blood vessel formation, which may lead to new treatments for heart attacks in diabetes patients. The researchers found that insulin activates a pathway producing VEGF, essential for new blood vessel growth.
A study found that corticosteroids in the trauma intensive care unit are associated with a higher risk of pneumonia, bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, prolonged ICU stays, and increased mortality rates. The use of corticosteroids for conditions not widely studied also resulted in significant additional costs.
The study highlights the co-dependence of mortality risk and poverty, with lower-income countries suffering greater losses due to inadequate infrastructure and emergency response systems. The Earth Institute at Columbia University is a leading academic center for integrated study of the Earth's environment and society.
A recent study published by the University of South Florida has found that drug use is linked to an increased risk of brain hemorrhage in young adults. The study analyzed data from 307 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and found that cocaine, marijuana, and amphetamines were common substances of abuse among those under 50.
A new study suggests that lower doses of the clot-busting drug tPA can effectively treat intracerebral hemorrhage without increasing bleeding risks, with mortality rates dropping to 13 percent in some cases. The findings are promising for patients who suffer from this type of stroke, which affects over 100,000 Americans annually.
Cornell University is developing a distributed communications system to coordinate emergency response efforts, hospital management, and local officials. The system will combine real-time reports with databases of hospital capacity and resources to optimize treatment capacity during mass casualty events.
A study of 851 patients found that metabolic acidosis was associated with a higher mortality rate compared to non-acidosis patients. Lactic acidosis and SIG acidosis were identified as independent predictors of hospital mortality in critically ill patients.
The study found that top 5 percent hospitals have significantly lower mortality and complication rates compared to the rest. These hospitals can avoid 21,896 complications and save 152,966 lives if they match the quality of care of top-performing hospitals.
A large cohort study found that sulfonylurea drugs increase the risk of mortality and cardiac events in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study suggests that sulfonylureas should be used only as a third-line treatment option, due to their potential to harm heart muscle.
Researchers analyzed data from hundreds of thousands of heart surgeries and found African-American patients face a two-fold increased risk of post-procedure death. Despite better access to high-volume hospitals, racial differences in mortality rates remain, highlighting the need for quality improvement beyond hospital volume.
The Lancet Editor Richard Horton emphasizes the importance of medical journals and general news media in drawing attention to neglected issues of child and maternal health. The current huge imbalances in research publications between high and low-income countries highlight the need for increased funding and action.
A nationwide household mortality survey found the national crude mortality rate to be 40% higher than sub-Saharan regional levels, resulting in 600,000 more deaths. The conflict has led to 3.9 million total deaths and 38,000 excess deaths per month.
Liver cirrhosis mortality rates have increased significantly in Scotland, England and Wales, doubling the European average. The authors attribute this to rising alcohol consumption, particularly wine and spirits, as well as other factors like obesity and hepatitis C.
A new set of guidelines aims to help care for children during emergencies, with a focus on simplifying treatment protocols and addressing special needs. The guidelines will be based on existing clinical protocols and are designed to be accessible to community health workers and volunteers.
A new theory explains tropical rain forests' rich biodiversity and community assembly patterns. The theory proposes that abundant species regulate themselves to make room for others, regulating dynamics and permitting coexistence.