Double count theory for US myocardial infarction rate
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The heart attack rate in the US may be greatly overstated, according to a study published in the May issue of Medical Care. Hospitals may be double counting a significant percentage of patients suffering an acute myocardial infarction, Colorado researchers reported after analysing hospital discharge data from eight states. The double count rate ranged from 10% to 15% in the eight states, said John M Westfall and Joe McGloin. Older patients and females were less likely to be double counted.