Heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular issues contributed to 2.2 million hospitalizations in 2016, according to the CDC’s most recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published Sept. 7.
For the report, researchers analyzed 2016 data on emergency department visits and hospitalizations linked to cardiovascular issues housed in Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project databases. Researchers identified deaths using National Vital Statistics System data.
Here are three things to know:
1. Cardiovascular-related issues cost the U.S. healthcare system $32.7 billion in 2016 and caused 415,480 deaths nationwide.
2. The CDC projects 16.3 million heart-related events could occur between 2017-21 without intervention, which would place a considerable health and economic burden on the U.S.
3. The Million Hearts 2022 initiative, co-led by the CDC and CMS, aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2022.
"These findings can be used by Million Hearts 2022 partners to understand the recent and potential future event burden if no further intervention occurs, and to focus their use of prevention strategies and assess the potential effect on cardiovascular event totals," the CDC said of its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.