The research, published in the British Medical Journal, looked at more than 800,000 men and women who suffered heart attacks between 2002 and 2010.
They found that fewer heart attacks occurred in later years and, of those that did occur, fewer were fatal.
Researchers say improvements in NHS care and better prevention measures have contributed to the decline.
Prof Peter Weissberg, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said there was still more to do to cut unnecessary deaths.
"This impressive fall in death rates is due partly to prevention of heart attacks by better management of risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and cholesterol and due partly to better treatment of heart attack patients when they reach hospital.
"But far too many heart attack victims still die from a cardiac arrest before medical help arrives. Many of these deaths could be prevented by rapid cardiopulmonary resuscitation."
With thanks to www.bbc.co.uk
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16738045
