Cardiovascular Disease & Stroke Mortality

Date Posted: 05/22/2008

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, the principal causes of cardiovascular mortality, are the first and third leading causes of death in the United States, respectively.

What this chart shows: Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Rate (per 100,000)- Colorado & Larimer County, 2002-2006

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

See data table

What these data tell us:

Mortality rates for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Colorado and Larimer County have steadily declined from 2002 to 2006. Larimer County's CVD mortality rate has been slightly lower than the Colorado average, and approximately 25% lower than the national average of 277.3 per 100,000. (National Vital Statistics Report, Deaths: Final Data 2005). Colorado typically attracts people with healthy, active lifestyles and has continually been ranked as the Leanest State across the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attribute the decline in cardiovascular mortality rates to public health efforts to reduce cigarette smoking, use of effective antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medications, decreased consumption of saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, advancement in diagnosis of heart disease and stroke, and the increased presence of cardiovascular disease specialists, emergency medical services, and coronary care units.

What this chart shows: Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Rate (per 100,000) by Gender- Larimer County, 2002-2006

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

See data table

What these data tell us:

From 2002 to 2006, death rates from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were over 25% higher for males than females in Larimer County. Males also had significantly higher death rates from CVD nationally (Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, 2008 Update At-A-Glance). 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 (click here to see the total number of deaths in Larimer County). This appears to be related to the longer life expectancy of females. In 2005, the national life expectancy (see page 7 of 121) was 80.4 years for females and 75.2 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- Larimer County, 2006

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

See data table

What these data tell us:

The risk of dying from cardiovascular disease increases dramatically with age. In 2006, four Larimer County residents in the 35 to 44 year old age group died, compared to 337 who were over 75 years of age. 88% of people who died from heart disease in Larimer County in 2006 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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On Compass -

• Adult Tobacco Use
• Men's Health
• Mortality and Life Expectancy
• Overweight and Obesity
• Population by Age
• Population by Gender
• Women's Health
• Youth Alcohol & Drug Use
• Youth Attitudes Toward Smoking

Outside Compass -

• The 2004 Community Health Survey - Risk Factors section looks at how Larimer County residents responded to questions about obesity, use of tobacco or alcohol, drinking and driving, seat-belt use, suicide and dietary habits.
• American Heart Association: Women and Cardiovascular Disease
• American Heart Association: Men and Cardiovascular Disease
• CDC State Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
• Heart Disease and Your Health--Information Booklets - Poudre Valley Hospital
• Stroke Information
• Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, 2008 At-A-Glance Update

Industry Standards or Targets:

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

• Reduce coronary heart disease deaths
• Reduce stroke deaths

Data Tables:

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

Year	Colorado		Larimer County
	Total Deaths	Rate	Total Deaths	Rate
2002	9,325	269.3	540	266.9
2003	9,228	261.4	489	234.7
2004	8,652	237.8	497	231.1
2005	8,845	237.9	496	226.1
2006	8,482	221.4	451	199.8

See chart

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

	Male		Female
	Total Deaths	Rate	Total Deaths	Rate
2002	253	322.8	287	228.9
2003	225	279.2	264	202.7
2004	224	262.2	273	205.7
2005	236	284.5	260	187.5
2006	204	226.5	247	177.1

See chart

Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Rate (per 100,000) by Age Group - Larimer County, 2006 (Crude Rates)

	Total Deaths	Rate
35 to 44	4	10.5
45 to 54	16	37.1
55 to 64	34	118.1
65 to 74	57	383.6
75 to 84	123	1274
85 +	214	6,393.8

See chart

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