Within a large community-based population, the incidence of myocardial infarction decreased significantly after 2000, and the incidence of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction decreased markedly after 1999. Reductions in short-term case fatality rates for myocardial infarction appear to be driven, in part, by a decrease in the incidence of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and a lower rate of death after non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

No abstract

Deceleration in the decline of all CVD, HD, and stroke mortality rates has occurred since 2011. If this trend continues, strategic goals for lowering the burden of CVD set by the American Heart Association and the Million Hearts Initiative may not be reached.

Objective The natural history of Chiari I malformation in children remains unclear. Methods In this population-based retrospective cohort study, we searched radiology reports from all head and spine MRI scans (n=5248) performed among 741, 815 children under age 20 within Kaiser Northern California, 1997–1998, for Chiari I. We reviewed medical records and imaging studies to determine clinical and radiographic predictors of significant neurologic symptoms defined as moderate to severe headache, neck pain, vertigo or ataxia. Results The 51 patients identified with Chiari I represented 1% of children who had head or spine MRI scans performed during the study period. Headache (55%) and neck pain (12%) were the most common symptoms. Syringomyelia was present in 6 patients (12%) at time of initial diagnosis; no new syrinxes developed during follow-up. Older age at time of diagnosis was associated with increased risk of headache (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.5) and significant neurologic symptoms (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.04–1.4). Conclusions Chiari I, an under-recognized cause of headaches in children, is also frequently discovered incidentally in children without symptoms. Larger and longer-term studies are needed to determine the prognosis and optimal treatment of pediatric Chiari I.

Practices that support early intervention for asthma flare-ups by parents at home, particularly written management plans, are strongly associated with reduced risk of adverse outcomes among children with asthma.