This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Infectious disease mortality rates higher among American Indians, Alaska Natives
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
American Indians and Alaska Natives had significantly higher average annual infectious disease death rates compared with rates for whites between 1999 and 2009, according to study findings in the American Journal of Public Health.
James E. Cheek, MD, MPH, of the University of New Mexico, and colleagues reviewed National Vital Statistics System mortality data in conjunction with Indian Health Service patient registry data from 1999 to 2009. Researchers analyzed deaths caused by infectious diseases among American Indians and Alaska Natives in contract health service delivery area (CHSDA) counties and all US counties. Generally, CHSDA counties contain federally recognized tribal lands or are adjacent to tribal lands.
American Indians and Alaska Natives had significantly higher infectious disease death rates than whites across gender, age group and region. The greatest death rate disparities were between American Indians/Alaska Natives and whites aged 0 to 19 years and 20 to 49 years. The average annual infectious disease death rate increased with age for American Indians, Alaska Natives and whites, according to the study findings.
Lower respiratory tract infection; sepsis; hepatobiliary disease; kidney, urinary tract and bladder infection; HIV/AIDS; heart infections; tuberculosis; enteric infection; mycoses; and skin and soft tissue infections — considered to be the “top 10 infectious disease causes of death” — accounted for 94% of infectious disease deaths among American Indian and Alaska Native deaths and 96% infectious disease deaths among whites. The top two causes were lower respiratory tract infection and sepsis, which accounted for 61% of all American Indian and Alaskan Native deaths and 65% of deaths among whites. Death rates for TB were 13 times higher for American Indians and Alaska Natives than for whites.
Five percent of American Indian and Alaska Native infectious disease deaths were among those aged 0 to 19 years. Infectious disease death rates for this age group were highest among American Indians and Alaska Natives for all of the top 10 causes of infectious disease deaths except enteric infections and upper respiratory infections, in which rates did not differ.
American Indians and Alaska Natives aged 20 to 49 years made up 22% of infectious disease deaths. Lower respiratory tract infections and HIV/AIDS were the leading causes of death for all patients in this age group.
The researchers said most of American Indian and Alaskan Native infectious disease deaths occurred among those aged 50 years and older, which accounted for 73% of deaths caused by infectious diseases. TB rates differed the most between American Indians and Alaska Natives and whites aged 20 to 49 years and at least 50 years.
“Implementation of the improvements thought to be responsible for the bulk of the reduction in [infectious disease] mortality in the United States between 1990 and 1980, such as improved sanitation, use of immunizations, and prompt access to antimicrobial therapy, might lead to similar substantial reductions in [infectious disease] mortality among this population,” researchers concluded.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts