Research on death rates and what drives them. Covers cancer-linked stroke, COVID underreporting, hemoglobin levels, and education and survival.
A study by University of Michigan researchers found that living in segregated cities with high levels of poverty is associated with higher mortality rates, particularly for cancer. The analysis revealed a strong correlation between segregation and increased susceptibility to illness and death among both black and white populations.
A study by OHSU researchers found improved quality of care to be the major factor behind declining hospital mortality rates for heart failure patients in Oregon. The study analyzed data from 1991-1995 and concluded that better treatment and care were key contributors to the lower death rate.
US cirrhosis mortality rates have increased and declined in tandem with hard liquor consumption, contrary to the expected association with beer and wine. The study found that excluding beer and wine from analysis revealed a strong correlation between hard liquor consumption and cirrhosis mortality trends.
Researchers observed a substantial reduction in mortality for heart failure patients who received the Aldactone medication regimen, reducing deaths by 30 percent. The study found that aldosterone blockade played an important role in this reduction and opens the door to developing more effective treatment options.
New research suggests that PSA testing alone cannot fully explain the decline in prostate cancer deaths since the early 1990s. Instead, other factors such as changing treatment patterns and misclassification of cause of death may be contributing to the trend.
A standardized treatment protocol for severely malnourished children has been shown to reduce mortality rates by 47%. The new protocol includes slow rehydration, immediate feeding with locally available foods, routine micronutrient supplementation, and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy.
A recent study by Peggy McDonough and colleagues found no difference in the effects of men's and women's socioeconomic status on mortality risk. However, they discovered a new wrinkle: increasing one spouse's income affects the other's mortality risk differently for men and women.
A new heat-health watch/warning system will be installed in Rome by summer 2000, giving health officials up to 60 hours' notice of deadly weather. The system has already protected people from killer heat in Philadelphia and Washington D.C., and may be launched in Shanghai and other cities if effective.
Researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found that hospitals with high volume of surgery for selected procedures had substantially lower surgical mortality rate. Mortality rates were 40-80% lower in these hospitals compared to those with limited experience.
The study found that HIV prevalence rates declined by 60-70% from the mid-1980s to the present day, with the majority of participants identifying as gay. However, high-risk groups such as men of low socio-economic status, African-American, and injection drug users continue to have high levels of HIV infection.
A new study found no significant differences between men and women in terms of in-hospital deaths and five-year survival rates after cardiac bypass surgery or angioplasty. The results suggest that the outcome for women undergoing revascularization is improving, despite previous studies showing poor outcomes.
A decline in deaths from congestive heart failure (CHF) has been observed among older adults in the US between 1988 and 1995. The greatest drop was seen in black adults, likely due to improved treatment strategies advocated by the American Heart Association, including earlier identification and better medication adherence.
A new study finds that unequal income distribution in US metropolitan areas is associated with a significant increase in mortality rates, exceeding the combined loss of life from several major causes. The research suggests that reducing economic inequalities should be a high priority to mitigate this burden.
A study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that medical regionalization in Maryland decreased the death rates for patients undergoing a complex pancreaticoduodenectomy operation for pancreatic cancer. The study showed that regionalization resulted in a significant reduction in mortality rates, with an estimated 57 patient lives saved.
Researchers found that female drivers are involved in slightly more crashes than male drivers, with males being three times more likely to be killed in car crashes. However, the study also revealed that after age 35, female drivers were at a greater risk of a crash than their male counterparts.
A study published in JAMA found that injured patients have a much higher death rate after leaving the hospital than the general population. This suggests that deaths after discharge should be included in any meaningful analysis of a trauma center's quality to get an accurate picture of its success.
Research on aging presents a surprising finding: mortality rates decrease with age in various species. Studies have shown that death rates level off at around 105 years old for humans and even decline after age 110. This trend is observed across different species, including fruit flies, worms, and yeast.
According to a recent study, 80% of poisoning deaths in the US are caused by drugs, with opioids and cocaine being the leading causes. The death rate from poisoning increased by 25% between 1990 and 1995, with the peak age group being 35-44 years.
Researchers found TTP develops within four weeks of starting ticlopidine therapy, causing mass destruction of blood platelets and high mortality rates. Early detection and treatment with plasmapheresis significantly reduce death risk, but most neurologists and cardiologists are unaware of this side effect.
A Johns Hopkins study found carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is safe for people in their 80s and 90s, with lower mortality rates than previously thought. The procedure's safety and efficacy were confirmed by analyzing data from over 9,900 procedures performed at 48 hospitals between 1990 and 1995.
The 1997 Illinois Statistical Abstract offers detailed information on various aspects of the state, including corn production, women-owned firms, cancer deaths, and per-capita personal income. The book provides a comprehensive overview of Illinois in all its diversity.
Researchers identified 20 modifiable risk factors contributing to mortality in older adults, including smoking, exercise, and chronic disease severity. Improved disease and health factors could lead to longer lifespan for those over 65.
A new study suggests that Social Security financing would be relatively unaffected by the largest expected mortality improvements, with less than 1% difference in tax rates projected. However, experts acknowledge a high degree of uncertainty about mortality improvement rates, which could add to the challenges faced by retirement planners.
A Yale University study confirms that UV-B radiation from the sun causes high rates of mortality and deformity in certain frog and amphibian species. Shielded embryos had significantly lower deformities and mortality rates compared to unshielded ones.
A new study recalculates stroke incidence in the US, estimating approximately 731,100 first and recurrent strokes annually. The study found a 200,000-stroke increase over previous estimates, with higher rates among African Americans.
A study published in Stroke: A Journal of the American Heart Association estimates that at least 731,000 first-ever and recurrent strokes occur each year in the US, which is 40% higher than previously stated figures. The study's findings suggest that stroke affects a more diverse population than previously thought.
A study by UPMC found that minimally invasive heart bypass surgery greatly reduces the number of deaths and complications in very high-risk cardiac patients. The procedure resulted in a mean hospital stay of just 3.9 days, with no patient mortality or strokes after five months.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that heart surgery patients who experience a stroke have significantly higher mortality rates and longer hospital stays compared to those without a stroke. The average hospital bill for these patients is $45,052, highlighting the need for improved stroke prevention and management.
Researchers found that angioplasties in high-volume centers with skilled physicians had low mortality rates and comparable heart attack rates compared to younger patients. The study suggests that elderly patients can benefit from angioplasty when appropriate candidates, paving the way for more advanced care.
A recent study comparing US and Canadian heart attack patient care found small but statistically significant short-term edges for American cardiac care. However, overall data suggest conservative Canadian practices may favor better long-term outcomes.
A study by UC Davis researchers found that protein-deprived diet reduces life expectancy in both male and female Medflies, but females are harder hit. This reversal of the natural lifespan advantage suggests a vulnerable window of time for females during reproduction.
The USGS has reported that at least 1,025 people have been killed in earthquakes this year, exceeding the total for 1996. The country-specific data highlights significant risks to public safety, particularly in Iran where a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck and killed over 965 people.
The American Heart Association President states that the age-adjusted death rate from CHD has slowed, with an average annual decline of 2.6 percent, compared to 3 percent in the 1980s. The organization attributes this slowdown to increased prevalence of CHD and risk factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking.
A comprehensive review of actuarial assumptions for public sector plans found that actuaries have been highly accurate in making critical demographic assumptions affecting retirement plan costs. The study of over 80 public retirement systems and 100 different retirement plans revealed accuracy rates ranging from 90-100% for key assumpt...
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine examines firearm injuries in three American cities, finding that nearly 90% of non-fatal gunshot wounds resulted from confirmed or probable assaults. The study also reveals alarming rates of injury and fatality among young black men, with a rate of 1,708.4 per 100,000 person-years.
A study by Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago Medical Center supports Benjamin Gompertz's theory of a universal law of mortality. The researchers analyzed data from sheltered animals and humans, finding statistically indistinguishable mortality curves that fit the Gompertz model.
A new study found that surfactant therapy significantly reduced the death rate of premature white infants, but failed to have a similar impact on black infants. The study, which analyzed 1,563 premature births, showed that while the overall mortality rate dropped 16%, the death rate for premature black infants remained unchanged.
A new outcomes scorecard system developed by cardiologists at Duke University aims to improve the accuracy of comparing hospitals' performance in common cardiology procedures. The system analyzed data from almost 8,000 coronary disease patients and showed a wide variation in death rates among hospitals.