Mortality Rate Improves For Mass. Heart Patients

Fewer patients undergoing heart surgeries in Massachusetts are dying in the weeks following their treatment.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Wednesday announced the results of two reports on the health outcomes for patients who have received two kinds of cardiac treatments - coronary artery bypass surgery and angioplasty.

The report found that the 30-day mortality rate for patients dying from any cause within a month after cardiac bypass surgery dropped from nearly 1.4 percent to less than 1.2 percent.

The mortality rate for angioplasty also showed improvement compared to recent years.

The study covered the period of October 2008 through September 2009.

Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach credited the improvement on an ongoing focus on health care quality and patient safety among cardiac care hospitals.