Study: U.S. Heart Disease Rates Falling

The percentage of Americans with coronary artery disease has dropped in the last few years, a study suggests. This condition is the cause of heart attacks. Many people just call it heart disease. A person with coronary artery disease has a buildup of deposits inside the arteries near the heart. The new study used results from a major U.S. health survey that is done each year. Researchers compared numbers from two recent years. In 2010, 6% of adults said they had coronary artery disease. This was down from 6.7% in 2006. For men, the most recent rate was 7.8%, compared with 4.6% for women. Rates also varied by state, ethnic group and education. Highest rates were in Southern states and among Native Americans and those with less than a high school education. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did the study. HealthDay News wrote about it October 13.