Cardiovascular Disease & Stroke Mortality

Date Updated: 09/29/2011

Cardiovascular disease refers to diseases that involve the heart and/or the blood vessels. Mortality refers to the number or rate of deaths that occur in a population. Mortality data below are presented in crude and age-adjusted rates (depending on the population in question). Heart disease and stroke (cerebrovascular disease), the principal causes of cardiovascular mortality, are the first and fourth leading causes of death in the United States, respectively.

What this chart shows: Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Rate (per 100,000) in Colorado & Larimer County, 2001-2010

*Age-Adjusted Rate

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment-Colorado Health Information Dataset

See data table

What the above data tell us:

Mortality rates for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Colorado and Larimer County have generally declined from 2001 through 2010. Larimer County's CVD mortality rate has been slightly lower than the Colorado average, with the exception of 2010. Colorado typically attracts people with healthy, active lifestyles and has consistently been ranked as the leanest state in the nation.

What this chart shows: Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Rate (per 100,000) by Gender in Larimer County, 2001-2010

*Age-Adjusted Rate

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment-Colorado Health Information Dataset

See data table

What the above data tell us:

From 2001 through 2010, death rates from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) averaged 25.0% higher for males than females in Larimer County. Typically males also have significantly higher death rates from CVD nationally (Deaths: Final Data for 2007 [pdf]). This may be attributed to a disproportionately smaller number of males who survive to old age. Male gender is considered a risk factor for both coronary heart disease and stroke.

While males have higher death rates per 100,000, a higher number of females die annually of cardiovascular disease. This appears to be related to the longer life expectancy of females. In 2009, the national life expectancy [pdf] was 80.6 years for females and 75.7 years for males. Older age is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

What this chart shows: Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Rate (per 100,000) by Age Group in Larimer County, 2010

*Crude Rate

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment-Colorado Health Information Dataset

See data table

What the above data tell us:

The risk of dying from cardiovascular disease increases dramatically with age. In 2010, 9 Larimer County residents in the 35 to 44 year old age group died, compared to 423 who were over 75 years of age. Of those who died from heart disease in Larimer County in 2010, 85% were 65 or older. Advanced age is a risk factor for both coronary heart disease and stroke.

Additional Information:

Definitions:

Crude death and age-adjusted rates: Crude death rates are calculated by dividing the number of deaths from a specific disease by the number of people in the population. Crude death rates are utilized when populations have a similar age distribution. If the distribution is not similar, age-adjusted rates are utilized to account for differences in the age composition of the populations.

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Healthy People 2010 is a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative establishing national objectives to improve the health of all Americans, to eliminate disparities, and to increase the years and quality of life. New guidelines and objectives have been established for the next ten years, through 2020.

Related Information on COMPASS -

• Adult Tobacco Use
• Men's Health
• Mortality
• Overweight and Obesity
• Population by Age
• Population by Gender
• Women's Health
• Youth Tobacco Use

Other Resources -

• American Heart Association: Women and Cardiovascular Disease
• American Heart Association: Men and Cardiovascular Disease [pdf]
• CDC State Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
• Stroke Information - Centers for Disease Control
• Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, 2009 At-A-Glance Update [pdf]

Industry Standards or Targets:

Healthy People 2010 Objectives (see site for more objectives):

• 12-1. Reduce coronary heart disease deaths to 166 per 100,000 population
• 12-7. Reduce stroke deaths to 48 per 100,000 population

Data Tables:

Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Rate (per 100,000) -
Larimer County & Colorado (Age-Adjusted Rates)

Year	Colorado		Larimer County
	Total Deaths	Rate	Total Deaths	Rate
2001	9,126	267.9	498	247.8
2002	9,325	267.1	540	263.0
2003	9,228	258.6	489	229.6
2004	8,652	235.3	497	225.3
2005	8,845	233.9	496	215.1
2006	8,482	217.6	451	185.5
2007	8,411	209.9	510	199.0
2008	8,363	200.8	512	188.7
2009	8,253	188.9	517	181.7
2010	8,283	183.2	566	191.4

See chart

Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Rate (per 100,000) by Gender -
Larimer County (Age-Adjusted Rates)

Year	Male		Female
	Total Deaths	Rate	Total Deaths	Rate
2001	209	265.5	289	228.9
2002	253	316.8	287	226.0
2003	225	272.4	264	198.4
2004	224	254.0	273	201.4
2005	236	269.0	260	178.6
2006	204	213.5	247	162.6
2007	245	244.4	265	166.5
2008	220	206.6	292	173.8
2009	235	207.5	282	161.1
2010	254	211.7	312	172.1

See chart

Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Rate (per 100,000) by Age Group -
Larimer County, 2010 (Crude Rates)

Age Group	Total Deaths	Rate
35 to 44	9	24.6
45 to 54	15	35.2
55 to 64	58	156.9
65 to 74	57	287.7
75 to 84	142	1,303.0
85 +	281	5,819.0

See chart

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