National and regional trends in heart failure hospitalization and mortality rates for medicare beneficiaries, 1998-2008

Abstract

Context: It is not known whether recent declines in ischemic heart disease and its risk factors have been accompanied by declines in heart failure (HF) hospitalization and mortality. Objective: To examine changes in HF hospitalization rate and 1-year mortality rate in the United States, nationally and by state or territory. Design, Setting, and Participants: From acute care hospitals in the United States and Puerto Rico, 55 097 390 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized between 1998 and 2008 with a principal discharge diagnosis code for HF. Main Outcome Measures: Changes in patient demographics and comorbidities, HF hospitalization rates, and 1-year mortality rates. Results: The HF hospitalization rate adjusted for age, sex, and race declined from 2845 per 100 000 person-years in 1998 to 2007 per 100 000 person-years in 2008 (P