Women's Health

Date Posted: 04/30/2008

In terms of general health status, men are more likely than women to report being in excellent or very good health. Women are more likely to report being limited in their activities than men. Men participate in physical activity for a greater number of minutes than women. More than half of adult women's diets include more than the recommended amount of fat and more than two thirds of women consume more than the recommended daily amount of sodium. Nationally, over half of all women are considered overweight or obese and over the past four decades female obesity has increased by 116.6% (Women's Health USA 2007).

In the case of specific health issues, women experience higher rates of arthritis, asthma and hypertension than men. Women under the age of 45 also experience higher rates of diabetes and heart disease than men in the same age group.

A range of mental health problems, including depression, disproportionately affect women and the rate of suicide attempts is three times higher for women. However, the rate of suicide is substantially higher for males than females. (Women's Health USA 2007)

Income and education are important factors that contribute to women's health and access to health care. In every family structure, women are more likely than men to live in poverty. Minority status also negatively impacts women's health status. See the additional information section of this measure page.

What this chart shows: Leading Causes of Mortality for Women - United States, 2005

Data Source: Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Injury and Prevention Control and Centers for Disease Control Wonder Database (2005 data is the most current available.)

See data table

What these data tell us:

Heart disease and cancer are the top causes of mortality among women in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, age-adjusted death rates decreased significantly for heart disease, cancer, and stroke, the top three leading causes of death for women. In the general population, mortality from heart disease has declined steadily since 1980, while cancer mortality has been on the decline since 1993.

However, age-adjusted death rates for women increased for other leading causes of death, including: unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and Alzheimer's disease. (Centers for Disease Control, 2005)

What this chart shows: Leading Causes of Mortality for Women - Colorado & Larimer County, 2005

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

See data table

What these data tell us:

Larimer County and Colorado "top causes" of female mortality are very similar to those of the United States, however they are ranked in a slightly different order (see both charts above). Larimer County and Colorado both have substantially lower rates of death than the nation for seven of the top causes, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, kidney disease, diabetes, influenza/pneumonia and septicemia. Colorado and Larimer County also have lower rates of chronic lower respiratory disease and Alzheimer's disease than the nation. However, unlike the United States, unintentional injury causes more female deaths in both Larimer County and Colorado than the nation.

Unlike the United States, intentional injury, primarily suicide, is one of the top causes of female mortality in both Colorado and Larimer County. In 2005, the crude death rate for intentional injury in the United States was 6.9, whereas the crude death rate for Colorado and Larimer County was 9.2 and 11.0, respectively. (See the Compass Suicide page for more information.)

What this chart shows: Incidence of Breast Cancer - Colorado & Larimer County, 1998 - 2002

Data Source: Colorado Department of Health and Environment - Colorado Health Information Dataset (2002 data is the most current available.)

See data table

What these data tell us:

The Larimer County rates of new diagnoses of breast cancer were not statistically significantly different from those in Colorado from 1998 to 2002. Over 200,000 (approximately 135 per 100,000) new breast cancer cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. In the U.S. today, there are more than two million breast cancer survivors, and every woman is at risk. See the American Cancer Society for the latest national estimates of new breast cancer cases and deaths, as well as information on factors that influence survival, known risk factors for the disease, prevention details, early detection and treatment methods, and research currently being conducted on breast cancer.

What this chart shows: Breast Cancer Mortality - Colorado & Larimer County, 2002-2006 (Age-Adjusted Rate)

Data Source: Colorado Department of Health and Environment - Colorado Health Information Dataset (2006 data is the most current available.)

See data table

What these data tell us:

In 2002 and 2003, Colorado's rates of mortality due to breast cancer were 14% and 12% higher than Larimer County's, respectively. In 2004, Larimer County's rates were 20% higher than Colorado's. However, in 2005 and 2006, Colorado's rates once again exceeded Larimer County's by 16% and 19%, respectively.

While breast cancer deaths have been declining nationally over the past two decades, breast cancer cannot yet be prevented. However, there are ways women can protect their health. Early detection is an important factor in the successful treatment of breast cancer. For more prevention information, visit the Breast Cancer.org site.

Additional Information:

Definitions-

From the University of Maryland Medicine:

Alzheimer's disease: a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that occurs in the brain.

Chlamydia: a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.

Septicemia: the clinical name for bacterial blood poisoning. Fatality rates for septicemia are high -- around 20 percent. Septicemia is a medical emergency and needs urgent treatment.

Minority Women-

Although women who are minorities experience many of the same health problems as white women, as a group, they are in poorer health, they use fewer health services, and they continue to suffer disproportionately from premature death, disease, and disabilities. Many also face tremendous social, economic, cultural, and other barriers to achieving optimal health (Office on Women's Health, 2003).

Uninsured Women-

Per the United States Department of Health and Human Services, in 2007, about 1 of every 5 U.S. women aged 18-64 years was uninsured. Uninsured women are more likely to be of minority racial and ethnic groups, to have less education, and to be poorer than insured women. Their ability to pay for health care is limited. Uninsured women may be especially vulnerable to cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases, because they are more likely than insured women to smoke cigarettes and to be overweight, and are less likely to engage in physical activity and to be aware of their cholesterol levels. In its 2008 Fact Sheet, the American Cancer Society noted poverty as the 'most critical factor affecting health and longevity.' (Health Insurance and Women)

Women in Poverty-

See the National Organization for Women Foundation-Women's Health and Poverty Fact Sheet.

Women and Smoking-

According to a 2006 Centers for Disease Control survey, about 1 in 5 American women aged 18 years and older, smoke cigarettes and the less education a woman has, the higher the likelihood she will smoke. In general, women smoke less than men, however smoking is becoming more popular among younger women, as approximately 21% of women aged 18-44 are smokers (Women and Smoking, American Cancer Society, 2007.)

Highlights from Healthy People 2000, Progress Review of Women's Health-

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women 75 years of age and older. It kills over twice as many women in this age group as cancer. However, most women are unaware of their risk of heart disease.
• Cancer is the leading cause of death in younger women; 22 times as many women aged 35-44 die from cancer as die of heart disease.
• Cancer incidence is highest for white women, but the cancer mortality rate is higher for black women than for white.
• Since 1987 lung cancer deaths in women were higher than that of breast cancer deaths. Today, lung cancer incidence is higher than breast cancer incidence for white women and about equal for black women.
• The prevalence of chlamydia among females 15-19 years of age has been more than halved.
• The proportion of total AIDS cases contracted by women has increased from 7% in 1985 to 20%. Heterosexual contact is the leading cause of viral transmission in women, followed by injecting drug use.

On Compass-

• Men's Health
• Cancer Incidence & Mortality
• Cardiovascular Disease & Stroke Mortality
• Lung Cancer Incidence & Mortality
• Perinatal Alcohol and Tobacco Use
• Prenatal Care
• Teen Births
• Unintentional Injury Mortality

Outside Compass-

• Centers for Disease Control-Cancer Early Detection Program
• Centers for Disease Control-Women's Health Topics
• Colorado Department of Health and Environment Prevention Services Division of Women's Health Section
• Health District of Northern Larimer County Community Health Survey: Preventative Screenings
• Healthinfosource.com: "Your Link to Health Information in Fort Collins"
• Health Reports, Women's Health, Poudre Valley Hospital
• Minority Women's Health-The National Women's Health Information Center
• The National Women's Health Information Center and The Office on Women's Health (Sponsored by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services)
• The Women's Resource Center (Larimer County)
• Women and Firearms Violence Fact Sheet, Violence Policy Center

Industry Standards or Targets:

Healthy People 2010 Objectives:

• Breast Cancer Objective 3.3
• Increase Proportion Receiving Mammogram Objective 3.13
• Cervical Cancer Objective 3.4
• Increase Proportion Receiving Pap Test Objective 3.11

For a comprehensive list of national health objectives pertaining to women, go to Healthy People 2010.

Data Tables:

Ten Leading Causes of Mortality for Women

-United States, 2005 (Rate per 100,000)

	Number	Rate
Septicemia	18,814	12.5
Kidney Disease	22,633	15.0
Influenza and Pneumonia	34,949	23.2
Diabetes	38,581	25.7
Accidents (Unintentional Injuries)	41,434	27.5
Alzheimer's Disease	51,040	33.9
Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease	68,498	45.5
Stroke	86,993	57.8
Cancer	268,890	178.8
Heart Disease	322,960	214.7

See chart

Leading Causes of Mortality for Women-Colorado & Larimer County, 2005 (Rate per 100,000)

	Larimer County		Colorado
	Number	Rate	Number	Rate
Septicemia	7	5.1	156	6.6
Kidney Disease	6	4.4	247	10.2
Diabetes	29	21.3	403	17.2
Influenza and Pneumonia	16	11.7	361	15.4
Unintentional Injuries	42	30.8	686	29.2
Alzheimer's Disease	30	22.0	749	31.9
Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease	33	24.2	931	39.7
Stroke	60	44.0	938	40.0
Heart Disease	172	126.2	3002	127.9
Cancer	185	135.7	3170	135.1

See chart

Incidence of Breast Cancer-Colorado & Larimer County, 1998-2002

(Rate per 100,000)

Year	Colorado		Larimer County
	Number	Rate	Number	Rate
1998	2,675	138.6	166	150.2
1999	2,837	142.8	162	142.5
2000	2,779	135.1	166	140.9
2001	2808	131.3	174	140.3
2002	2789	126.6	172	134.1

See chart

Breast Cancer Mortality-Colorado & Larimer County, 2002-2006

(Age-Adjusted, Rate per 100,000)

	Colorado			Larimer County
	Number	Rate	Number		Rate
2002	493	22.0	25		18.9
2003	506	22.2	26		19.6
2004	507	21.9	37		27.4
2005	514	21.9	25		18.3
2006	491	20.5	23		16.6

See chart

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