Cardiac deaths are increasing globally, with more people dying at home rather than in hospitals, despite lower hospital admissions. Researchers from Mass General Brigham studied death certificate data and found that cardiac deaths exceeded expected levels between 2020 and 2023, particularly among those who died at home.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, used data from Massachusetts residents to compare cardiac death rates before and during the pandemic. Cardiac deaths were 16% higher in 2020, 17% higher in 2021 and 2022, and 6% higher in 2023 compared to previous years.
The findings suggest that despite lower hospital admissions, more people are dying at home due to cardiac events. This raises concerns about the quality of care provided during and after the pandemic, highlighting opportunities for improvement in treating and preventing cardiac events in high-risk individuals.
The study’s authors emphasize the importance of using death certificate data to track mortality rates, as it would have otherwise gone unnoticed. The research highlights potential shortcomings in cardiac care during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods, underscoring the need for better treatment and prevention strategies for people at risk of cardiac events.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-home-heart-cardiac-deaths-covid.html