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CDC: Many CVD deaths preventable
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In 2010, more than 200,000 avoidable deaths from CVD and stroke occurred in the United States, according to a new CDC report, with the majority occurring in people younger than 65 years.
“These findings are really striking because we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of deaths that don’t have to happen when they happen,” Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, director of the CDC, said during a press telebriefing.
Tom Frieden
Researchers evaluated National Vital Statistics System mortality data from 2001 to 2010 to identify the number of avoidable deaths, defined as death resulting from an underlying cause of heart disease, stroke or hypertensive disease, and analyze rates and trends according to age, sex, race/ethnicity and state of residence.
The researchers found that 200,070 avoidable deaths from heart disease, stroke and hypertensive disease occurred in 2010, with a death rate of 60.7 per 100,000 population. Data indicated that avoidable death rates were highest among people aged 65 to 74 years and lowest among those aged 0 to 34 years. Fifty-six percent of avoidable deaths occurred among those younger than 65 years.
“There are certain trends that I think are relevant,” Frieden said, noting that these trends may affect efforts to decrease the incidence of CVD and related deaths.
Age, he said, obviously plays a significant role, but the study data showed that the rates of avoidable death also varied considerably according to sex, race/ethnicity and location. Avoidable deaths were higher among men vs. women (83.7 vs. 39.6 per 100,000) and among blacks (107.3 per 100,000) vs. other races/ethnicities, with black men having the highest risk. Rates also ranged significantly by state, from 36.3 in Minnesota to 99.6 per 100,000 in the District of Columbia, and were highest in the South, according to the report.
The researchers, however, observed a 29% decline in the avoidable death rate from 2001 to 2010, particularly among those aged 65 to 74 years. Decreases were more gradual among those aged 55 to 64 years, minimal among those aged 35 to 54 years and unchanged in the youngest age group.
“Bottom line is this is the No. 1 cause of death,” Frieden said. “It’s the No. 1 preventable cause of death. It’s the No. 1 cause of health inequalities, and it’s really possible for us to make rapid and substantial progress reducing these preventable deaths.”
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