Heart attack mortality rates
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Trends in Heart Attack Mortality Rates
Declining Heart Attack and Coronary Heart Disease Mortality Rates
Over the past several decades, heart attack (acute myocardial infarction, AMI) and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality rates have shown a significant decline in many countries. In the United States, age-standardized CHD mortality rates dropped sharply from 1990 to 2019, with rates for women falling from 210.5 to 66.8 per 100,000 and for men from 442.4 to 156.7 per 100,000, representing annual declines of about 4% and 3.7% respectively . Similar downward trends have been observed in Europe, where AMI attack and mortality rates decreased in most populations between 1985 and 2010 . In the United Kingdom, United States, and other high-income countries, ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality rates have also progressively decreased from 2005 to 2015 . These declines are attributed to improvements in prevention, treatment, and reductions in risk factors such as smoking and hypertension 46.
Recent Reversals and Slowing Progress
Despite these long-term improvements, recent years have seen a slowing or even reversal of progress in some groups. In the US, the decline in CHD mortality has slowed among younger adults, and from 2019 to 2022, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rates increased by 9.3%, erasing nearly a decade of progress and resulting in over 228,000 excess CVD deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic 28. Premature heart disease mortality rates (ages 25–64) have stagnated since 2011, and in some US counties, rates among adults aged 35–64 have increased . These trends are concerning and highlight the need for renewed focus on prevention and management.
Risk Factors and Disparities in Heart Attack Mortality
Modifiable risk factors—such as smoking, alcohol use, obesity, and uncontrolled blood pressure—remain major contributors to heart attack mortality. Studies estimate that eliminating these risk factors could have prevented about half of all CHD deaths in the US between 1990 and 2019 . Socioeconomic status and demographic factors also play a significant role. For example, a city in Germany with high heart attack mortality rates was found to have a higher prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles, particularly among populations with low socioeconomic status or immigration backgrounds . In the US, disparities persist by race, ethnicity, and geography: in 2017, premature heart disease mortality rates were 134% higher among men than women and 87% higher among Black individuals compared to White individuals 910. State-level and regional differences are also substantial .
In-Hospital and Out-of-Hospital Case Fatality Rates
In-hospital case fatality rates for acute myocardial infarction have declined significantly. For example, in Worcester, Massachusetts, in-hospital case fatality rates dropped from 22.2% in 1975 to 15.1% in 1984, a 32% reduction . European data also show declines in both total and in-hospital case fatality rates, though prehospital case fatality trends vary by population and sex . Out-of-hospital coronary heart disease deaths have also decreased in some regions, contributing to overall improvements in mortality rates .
Conclusion
Heart attack mortality rates have declined substantially in many parts of the world over recent decades, driven by better prevention, treatment, and reductions in key risk factors. However, recent data show that progress is slowing or reversing in some populations, particularly among younger adults and disadvantaged groups. Persistent disparities by race, socioeconomic status, and geography underscore the need for targeted public health strategies and continued efforts to address modifiable risk factors to sustain and further reduce heart attack mortality rates 2346+4 MORE.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic