Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing

Deaths from cancer showed a decrease in recent years, while gains in fighting cardiovascular conditions were more modest.

Researchers in a recent study analyzed mortality rates for cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart disease (HD), stroke, and cancer.

The study, published in JAMA Cardiology, used data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research from 2000 to 2011. Investigators discovered a smaller decrease in CVH, HD, and stroke mortality rates after 2011 compared with cancer mortality rates.

For 2011, the cancer mortality rate decreased 1.55%, while the CVD mortality rate dropped .65%. The decline in HD and stroke mortality rates were .76% and .37%, respectively.

The researchers said that at this rate of decline, HD mortality would fall below the cancer mortality rate, according to the study.

"Given the high absolute burden and associated costs of HD and stroke, continued vigilance and innovation are essential in our efforts to address the ongoing challenge of CVD prevention,” the researchers concluded. “However, the recent deceleration in the rate of decline in HD mortality is alarming and warrants expanded innovative efforts to improve population-level CVD prevention."