Emergency department admissions for stroke among Medicare beneficiaries increased 2.2 percent while admissions for heart attack decreased 1.7 percent from 2008 to 2010, according to a study (pdf) by HealthGrades.
Although admissions for heart attack decreased in this time period, it remains one of the most common causes for Medicare patient admission through the ED, along with pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Together, these conditions comprised nearly half of all ED admissions.
In addition, heart attack and stroke were among the conditions with the highest mortality rates at 9.24 percent and 6.08 percent, respectively. Sepsis (18.98 percent) and respiratory failure (18.09 percent) had the highest mortality rates.
Overall, cases admitted through the ED increased an average of 2.64 percent from 2008 to 2010.
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Although admissions for heart attack decreased in this time period, it remains one of the most common causes for Medicare patient admission through the ED, along with pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Together, these conditions comprised nearly half of all ED admissions.
In addition, heart attack and stroke were among the conditions with the highest mortality rates at 9.24 percent and 6.08 percent, respectively. Sepsis (18.98 percent) and respiratory failure (18.09 percent) had the highest mortality rates.
Overall, cases admitted through the ED increased an average of 2.64 percent from 2008 to 2010.
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