Fewer stroke and prostate cancer patients die within one year after their first hospitalisation

Between 2000 and 2005, mortality among stroke and prostate cancer patients within one year after their first hospital admission dropped by more than 25 and 21 percent respectively. The mortality rate for various other life-threatening diseases also dropped. Cancer has the highest mortality rate within one year after first hospital admission.

One-year mortality for stroke patients reduced by one quarter

In 2005, 22 percent of stroke patients died within one year after they had first been hospitalised. One of the reasons for the reduction of the stroke mortality rate by a quarter since 2000 was intensification of after-care by providing more stroke services. Treatment is also better fine-tuned to the individual patient as a result of a more accurate diagnosis.

One-year mortality for prostate cancer patients dropped to 15 percent in 2005. The reduction is possibly related to an increase in the use of PSA tests, which allow early detection and treatment of prostate cancer.

One-year mortality

One-year mortality

Mortality rate also down after hospital admission due to medical complications

Mortality following hospitalisation related to medical complications also declined considerably. This is either due to improved care or less serious complications. The one-year mortality rate related to congenital diseases, diverticular disease (intestinal disorder), cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney diseases decreased substantially too.

Diagnosis groups with highest one-year mortality rate, 2005

Diagnosis groups with highest one-year mortality rate, 2005

Highest one-year mortality rate for cancer patients

Malignant neoplasms (cancer) scored the highest corrected one-year mortality in 2005. Nearly 25 percent of cancer patients who were admitted to hospital for the first time, die within the span of one year. The rate for blood diseases is 20 percent, for metabolic diseases 10 percent and for cardiovascular and infectious diseases 9 percent.

With 80 percent, pancreas cancer has the highest one-year mortality score among both genders, before liver cancer, oesophageal cancer and lung cancer.

Types of cancer with highest one-year mortality rate, 2005

Types of cancer with highest one-year mortality rate, 2005

Gerard Verweij and Agnes de Bruin