New CDC stats: Adults expected to live a little longer, heart disease still top killer

You can see the results from the failures in our fucking failures of stroke associations in not doing a damn thing to reduce stroke deaths. With no measurement of 30-day deaths there will never be any solutions to that problem. Does your hospital measure any results in stroke?

New CDC stats: Adults expected to live a little longer, heart disease still top killer

MedicalXpress Breaking News-and-Events | January 31, 2020

Life expectancy increased in 2018 for the first time in several years, and the rate of heart disease deaths saw a slight dip—though it remains the nation's top killer, according to new federal reports.

Adults gained 1.2 months, or 36 days, in life expectancy compared to 2017, according to data released Thursday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The modest increase is welcome news given it was the first uptick since 2014. Life expectancy at birth increased from 78.6 years in 2017 to 78.7 in 2018, largely because of decreases in deaths from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries and chronic lower respiratory diseases.

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Heart disease, the leading cause of death, killed 655,381 people in the United States in 2018. The rate was 163.6 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to 165 deaths in 2017.
The news should be celebrated, but there is plenty of room for improvement, said Dr. Robert Harrington, chair of the department of medicine at Stanford University in California and president of the American Heart Association.
"Certainly, it's important news, and it's nice after some years of decline in stats to see an improvement," Harrington said. "We're cautiously pleased, but there's clearly an enormous amount of work to do. All of the things AHA has grouped into an advocacy platform and science base, we need to double down the efforts because there's a long way to go."

• See Also: Half of women with heart failure get the wrong treatment

Cancer took the No. 2 spot on the list of deadly threats, with accidents and lower respiratory disease in third and fourth. Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death and killed 147,810 people in 2018. The rate of stroke deaths remained about the same—37.1 per 100,000 people in 2018 compared with 37.6 in 2017.
This week, the AHA said its most recent 2020 statistics showed more people are living longer but in poorer health that is striking at a younger age. To address the problem, the AHA issued a presidential advisory in the journal Circulation outlining new national and global 2030 Impact Goals to help increase the number of healthy years.
The last decade has seen improvements in lifestyle behaviors across US residents that have helped many people stave off heart disease and stroke, Harrington said. For example, people are paying more attention to diet, managing their cholesterol and kicking the cigarette habit.
But many trends—particularly among children and young adults—leave medical professionals concerned for future generations.
"This will be our north star for the next 10 years," Harrington said. "The focus will be on trying to improve healthy living for the next decade."
Here are other highlights from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics reports:

• The 10 leading causes of death, in order, are heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, Alzheimer disease, diabetes, flu and pneumonia, kidney disease and suicide.
• For males, life expectancy changed from 76.1 years in 2017 to 76.2 in 2018—an increase of 0.1 year. For females, life expectancy increased 0.1 year, from 81.1 years in 2017 to 81.2 in 2018.
• A total of 658 women died of maternal causes in the U.S. in 2018, and their death rate per 100,000 live births was 17.4.
• In 2018, there were 67,367 drug overdose deaths—4.1% fewer deaths than the year before.
• The drug overdose death rate was lower in 2018 than 2017 for 15 jurisdictions: Alaska, Washington, DC, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
• The drug overdose death rate was higher in 2018 than 2017 for five states: California, Delaware, Missouri, New Jersey and South Carolina.

CDC: Outpatient rehab rates suboptimal for stroke survivors

Who gives a shit about participation rates? Survivors want to know about efficacy and results of stroke rehab. Maybe if results were better you would have higher participation. The goal is 100% recovery, start measuring that.  
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-05-cdc-outpatient-rehab-suboptimal-survivors.html

(HealthDay)—In 2015, 35.5 percent of adult stroke survivors used outpatient rehabilitation, up from 31.2 percent in 2013, according to research published in the May 25 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Carma Ayala, Ph.D., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues analyzed 2013 and 2015 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to update estimates of participation in outpatient rehabilitation after hospital discharge for adult stroke survivors.

The researchers found that outpatient rehabilitation use was 31.2 percent overall in 20 states and the District of Columbia in 2013 and 35.5 percent in four states in 2015. There were disparities in rehabilitation use based on sex, race, Hispanic origin, and education level.

"Although estimates of stroke outpatient rehab referral might be high, participation in stroke outpatient rehab remains suboptimal," the authors write. "Barriers to participation in stroke outpatient rehab are evident, but focused attention on system-level interventions that ensure participation is needed, especially among populations with lower levels of participation."

Explore further: Many stroke survivors don't receive timely rehab

More information: Abstract/Full Text

Journal reference: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

CDC Director: Every 40 seconds someone in the US has a stroke. This is a wake up call, America

Even the CDC is failing stroke survivors by almost exclusively focusing on prevention. Are you that poor at leadership that you won't tackle the difficult BHAG(Big Hairy Audacious Goal) of 100% recovery? Put me in charge and I will get it solved.  That is not arrogance, the path already exists to get there if existing stroke research is followed up. 
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/09/06/turning-tables-on-stroke.html

When Sen. Paul Coverdell went to the hospital in 2000, nobody expected a stroke would end his life just days later. He hadn’t previously suffered serious health problems, and his death at the age of 61 shocked loved ones and friends.

Many knew Sen. Coverdell by reputation as a soft-spoken and hard-working U.S. senator – and I witnessed his love for public service firsthand while serving as his health policy adviser and a founding board member for his leadership institute. But I also had the great honor to call him a friend. Although he died too young and too soon, his family may take comfort in the positive impact his death had on the quality of stroke care across the nation.

Every 40 seconds in the U.S., someone has a stroke, and more than 140,000 die each year. As a leading cause of death nationwide, many Americans have personally been impacted by stroke – which is sometimes called a brain attack and occurs when a clot blocks blood flow to the brain or when a blood vessel bursts in the brain.
As CDC’s latest Vital Signs report reveals, after decades of decline, progress in preventing stroke deaths has stalled across the nation—not only in the “stroke belt” of the South, but in three out of every four states. In addition, we’re seeing higher rates of death due to stroke among certain populations including Hispanics, blacks, and in people living in the South. While the reasons for the change in trend are unclear, we believe it’s partly due to a rise in chronic risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.

We need to focus on those populations and regions at greatest risk. CDC research shows that blacks continue to be the hardest hit by stroke deaths, while Hispanics experienced a six percent increase in the stroke death rate each year between 2013 and 2015.

These findings are a wakeup call. We know about 80 percent of the strokes we see today are avoidable. For example, high blood pressure is the most important treatable risk factor for stroke. Around 75 million adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure – and only around half have their condition under control. So when it comes to addressing stroke risk factors, we can do better.
We also need to focus on those populations and regions at greatest risk. CDC research shows that blacks continue to be the hardest hit by stroke deaths, while Hispanics experienced a six percent increase in the stroke death rate each year between 2013 and 2015. And despite popular belief, stroke isn’t something that only happens to older people. Our data show an increasing number of younger adults are having strokes, which can cause lifelong disability.
Hippocrates – known as the father of medicine – first recognized stroke more than 2,400 years ago. He called it apoplexy, which means "struck down by violence" in Greek, to describe the sudden paralysis that often occurred. Today, we know much more about what causes stroke, and how to prevent and treat it. But just like in Hippocrates’ time, a stroke happens fast – and the response has to be equally as fast. That means knowing the signs and symptoms and thinking F.A.S.T: F stands for facial drooping; A represents arm weakness; S signifies speech difficulties; and T stands for time, which means call 9-1-1 immediately.
Although Sen. Coverdell died more than 17 years ago, his legacy lives on – particularly when it comes to raising the bar on stroke care.
Through the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program, CDC provides funding to state health departments to develop and improve the “stroke system of care” – which aims to ensure stroke patients get integrated care from beginning to end; from the first symptoms, to emergency medical services transport and hospital care, to rehabilitation and medicines to prevent another stroke, and return to their own doctor.
I’m proud to say my home state of Georgia has been involved in these efforts, with a stroke registry praised for its collaboration between emergency medical services, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and primary care providers. More than 60 hospitals participate in the Georgia Coverdell Acute Stroke Registry, from local hospitals in rural areas to certified primary and comprehensive stroke centers. And there are benefits to participation. Evidence indicates that, in the years following the program’s implementation, the improvements in Georgia’s stroke care resulted in fewer stroke deaths among participating hospitals providing the highest levels of care.

Stroke Death Progress Slows in U.S. Likely due to country's struggle with risk factors, CDC says

The whole problem here is the single-minded focus on prevention. I'm sure by focusing on stopping the neuronal cascade of death by these 5 causes in the first week the 30-day death rate could  be dropped substantially. But the stroke medical world is willfully blinded by the status quo of prevention only. The cures to the  neuronal cascade of death are  BHAGs(Big Hairy Audacious Goals)
 that no one seems to be willing to undertake.  
https://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Strokes/67732?

• by Nicole Lou, Reporter, MedPage Today/CRTonline.org September 06, 2017

Stroke deaths in the U.S. may be on the upswing again after a decline in recent decades, according to a CDC Vital Signs report.
Stroke mortality fell each year from 2000 to 2013, from just under 120 to 70 per 100,000. But after that, stroke deaths climbed back up by 4% every year, reaching 75 per 100,000 in 2015, according to Robert Merritt, MA, a health scientist at the CDC.
"My explanation would be a continued struggle in this country with risk factors," he said during a press telebriefing, citing hypertension, diabetes, and physical inactivity among other examples. Two more reasons for the comeback of stroke deaths: the difficulty of recognizing stroke symptoms and the reluctance to seek care, he added.
"I think the systemic changes are being made -- we've seen the advances in tPA, the clot busting drugs. All those things are very good. But if the risk factors remain high, and people don't call 911 when they have a stroke, it's going to offset all those good things that are going on," Merritt warned.
The decline in stroke death slowed down in 38 states over the 2000-2015 period. In fact, most Southern and Southwestern states showed a renewed uptick in these deaths. The Midwest, on the other hand, saw continued declines in stroke deaths.
Certain subpopulations also appeared to be increasingly vulnerable to fatal strokes during this time, namely Hispanics and African Americans, who remain at highest risk for stroke death, researchers said.
"This is an important wake-up call. The majority of strokes we see are avoidable and we know how to prevent them," said CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald, MD, during the briefing.
Health systems have an important role in finding patients with undiagnosed or unmanaged stroke risk factors, in working with emergency medical services to identify strokes and get patients transported to the hospital quickly, and in implementing systems of care that encompass stroke care from hospital admission to discharge and recovery.
For their part, healthcare professionals can identify and treat hypertension, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking and other risk factors, Merritt said.

CDC estimates preventable deaths from 5 leading causes

What a fucking crock of bullshit. This will just allow our fucking failures of stroke associations to focus on prevention and awareness rather than tackling the difficult problems in stroke. They weren't doing one damn thing about stroke rehab before, now they will not lift a finger to fixing stroke problems. You are continually screwed until everything currently in stroke is destroyed. 

CDC estimates preventable deaths from 5 leading causes

American Pharmacists Association News, 11/23/2016

New CDC research shows that the number of potentially preventable deaths dropped from 2010 to 2014 for three of the five top causes of death in the United States. The five leading causes of death for people younger than aged 80 years in 2014 were diseases of the heart, cancers, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases (CLRD), and unintentional injuries, collectively accounting for 63% of all deaths that year. CDC estimates that 15% of these cancer deaths, 30% of these heart–disease deaths, 43% of those unintentional–injury deaths, 36% of these CLRD deaths, and 28% of those stroke deaths possibly could have been prevented. Compared with 4 years earlier, potentially preventable cancer deaths dropped 25%; potentially preventable deaths from stroke declined 11%; potentially preventable deaths from heart disease decreased 4%; potentially preventable deaths from accidents increased 23%, in large part due to drug poisonings and falls; and potentially preventable deaths from CLRD rose 1%. "Fewer Americans are dying young from preventable causes of death," said CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD MPH.

Go to Abstract Print Article Summary Cat 2 CME Report

CDC estimates preventable deaths from 5 leading causes

The 28% of those stroke deaths possibly could have been prevented are probably the standard 80-90% that are just generically preventable by blood pressure control, overweight, cholesterol. I bet a lot more could be prevented in the 30day death category if only our fucking failures of stroke associations would stop the  neuronal cascade of death by these 5 causes in the first week.
https://www.mdlinx.com/family-medicine/medical-news-article/2016/11/22/6953423/?

American Pharmacists Association News, 11/23/2016

New CDC research shows that the number of potentially preventable deaths dropped from 2010 to 2014 for three of the five top causes of death in the United States. The five leading causes of death for people younger than aged 80 years in 2014 were diseases of the heart, cancers, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases (CLRD), and unintentional injuries, collectively accounting for 63% of all deaths that year. CDC estimates that 15% of these cancer deaths, 30% of these heart–disease deaths, 43% of those unintentional–injury deaths, 36% of these CLRD deaths, and 28% of those stroke deaths possibly could have been prevented. Compared with 4 years earlier, potentially preventable cancer deaths dropped 25%; potentially preventable deaths from stroke declined 11%; potentially preventable deaths from heart disease decreased 4%; potentially preventable deaths from accidents increased 23%, in large part due to drug poisonings and falls; and potentially preventable deaths from CLRD rose 1%. "Fewer Americans are dying young from preventable causes of death," said CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD MPH.

Go to Abstract Print Article Summary Cat 2 CME Report

Health Literacy – Still Not Feeling It? Stroke?

In stroke there is NO way to obtain any useful information about stroke because there is NONE. Complete failure on our stroke medical leadership. Wait, we have NO stroke leadership so I guess there is no failure. We are totally screwed until our fucking failures of stroke associations step up to the plate and actually do something for survivors. But don't hold your breath, they don't even have a survivor contact function.
https://hcldr.wordpress.com/2016/05/28/health-literacy-still-not-feeling-it/
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines health literacy as

“The degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions”.

Most adults' 'heart age' exceeds their actual age: U.S. CDC

Mine tells me I'm 61  instead of my age of 59 but you have to lie and say you have not had a stroke to get thru the test.
Test here:
http://www.heartage.me/your-heart-age/your-health
Article here:
Most adults' 'heart age' exceeds their actual age: U.S. CDC

200,000 Preventable Deaths from Heart Disease & Stroke

While this is a laudable goal, nothing in here is more than a press release. No actionable and measurable items. And nothing that mentions the stroke deaths occurring due to the neuronal cascade of death in the first week. Stupidity and laziness rule.
http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/HeartDisease-Stroke/index.html
Nearly 1 in 3 deaths in the US each year is caused by heart disease and stroke. At least 200,000 of these deaths could have been prevented through changes in health habits, such as stopping smoking, more physical activity, and less salt in the diet; community changes to create healthier living spaces, such as safe places to exercise and smoke-free areas; and managing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
More people will have access to health care coverage and preventive care through the Affordable Care Act. Health care providers should talk with their patients about healthy habits at every visit and follow patients’ progress.
Health care systems and providers can also:

• Use electronic health records to identify and support patients who need help quitting smoking or who have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
• Refer patients to community resources, such as smoking quitlines and blood pressure selfmanagement programs.
• Track patient progress on the ABCS of heart health—Aspirin when appropriate, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation.

*Preventable (avoidable) deaths are defined as those from ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic rheumatic heart disease, and hypertensive disease in people under age 75, although changes in health habits and the health care system can reduce death among all ages.

Problem

Many deaths from heart disease and stroke can be prevented.

What do we know about preventable deaths from heart disease and stroke?
Your chances of dying from heart disease and stroke depend on many things.

Age: While the number of preventable deaths has declined in people ages 65-74, it has remained virtually unchanged in people under 65.

Important progress has been made, but more is needed to continue to save lives, particularly for people under 65 years

SOURCE: National Vital Statistics System, US Census Bureau, 2001-2010.

View large image and text version.

Race/ethnicity: Blacks are nearly twice as likely as whites to die early from heart disease and stroke.
Sex: Men have the highest risk of death across all races and ethnic groups. Black men are most at risk.

Black men are at highest risk of dying early from heart disease and stroke