AHRQ Analysis Shows Decline in Hospital Stays for Heart Conditions

Hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease—specifically, coronary artery disease, heart attack and ischemic stroke—fell 42 percent from 2001 to 2014, according to a new AHRQ analysis. During that period, in-hospital deaths among ischemic stroke patients decreased 38 percent while in-hospital deaths among heart attack patients decreased 29 percent. In 2014, the hospitalization rate for cardiovascular disease was 69 percent higher among those living in the lowest-income areas compared with those in the wealthiest areas. The analysis was based on data from AHRQ’s Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, the largest collection of hospital care data in the United States. Access the AHRQ analysis.

Coronary Artery Disease, Acute Myocardial Infarction, and Ischemic Stroke Rates Among Inpatient Stays, 2001-2014

Quyen Ngo-Metzger, M.D., M.P.H., Arlene S. Bierman, M.D., M.S., Amanda Borsky, Dr.P.H., M.P.P., Kevin C. Heslin, Ph.D., Brian J. Moore, Ph.D., and Marguerite L. Barrett, M.S.

Highlights

From 2001 to 2014, the rate of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) inpatient stays among adults decreased 41.5 percent, from 1,192.9 to 698.0 stays per 100,000 adults. ASCVD is defined here as coronary artery disease (CAD), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or ischemic stroke.

The percentage of stays for ischemic stroke resulting in an in-hospital death decreased 38.1 percent from 2001 to 2014; in-hospital deaths also decreased 29.3 percent during this time among stays for AMI.

In 2014, the rate of ASCVD stays per 100,000 adults was highest in low-income areas and progressively decreased as community-level income increased. Specifically, there were 855.8 stays per 100,000 adults in the lowest income areas compared with 536.1 stays per 100,000 adults in the wealthiest communities.

The rate of stays for CAD was 69.3 percent higher in the lowest income areas than in the wealthiest areas in 2014 (222.0 vs. 131.2 stays per 100,000 adults).

The rate of ASCVD stays among adults in 2014 was 31.2 percent lower in large metropolitan areas than in rural areas (667.7 vs. 969.8 stays per 100,000 adults).