Drivers

Ablation for Arrhythmia Better Than Drugs

Among arrhythmia patients who were treated with ablation, the surgery was promounced successful in 75% of patients, compared to a 6% success rate for patients who received drug therapy alone. The data were presented in mid-May at the annual meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society by Dr. Pierre Jais, cardiologist at Haut-Hospital (France). At the beginning of the one-year study, 112 patients were split into two patient groups to receive either drugs alone or ablation, however, 37 patients in the drug-only group were switched over to the ablation group when it was discovered the drugs were not having the desired effect.

New Data Confirm Undertreatment of Female Cardiac Patients

Researchers discovered that a bias exists in America that leaves many women untreated who should receive therapy for cardiac disease. Peter Brady of the Mayo Clinic presented study results at the mid-May Heart Rhythm Society meeting showing that women receive 18% of defibrillators. Also, among device recipients older than 80 years, women only accounted for 3.4%. The data were compiled in a study reviewing every defibrillator implantation performed in Olmsted County, Minnesota, between 2000 and 2004.

One-third of American women present with cardiovascular disease. Since 1984, deaths among women due to cardiovascular disease have exceeded those for men, according to the American Heart Association.

Impact of the Elderly on U.S. Health Care

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research, 12% of Americans (i.e., those age 65 or older) accounted for more than one-third of all hospital admissions in 2003. That translates to more than 13 million hospital stays. In that year, the elderly also accounted for 44% of all hospital charges (nearly $329 billion) and four of the top five most frequent hospital procedures were performed on an elderly patient. Those procedures were: diagnostic cardiac catheterization and coronary arteriography; upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy; respiratory intubation and mechanical ventilation; and percutaneous coronary angioplasty.