Chronic disease mortality in Maine: assessing the targets for prevention.
From 1982 through 1991, nine chronic diseases accounted for over 55 percent of deaths in Maine. Using the lowest age-specific death rates as theoretically achievable rates, there were over 8,000 excess deaths. Over 25,000 deaths could be attributed to preventable causes over the 10-year period. Cigarette smoking was the single largest contributor to chronic disease mortality, accounting for 17,688 deaths, followed by physical inactivity, high blood pressure, and diet. This assessment provides a measure of the size of the chronic disease prevention target in Maine and is a first step in assessing the potential impact of prevention programs.
Carvette
M E
ME
Occupational Health Program, Maine Bureau of Health, Augusta, USA.
Hayes
E B
EB
Schwartz
R H
RH
Bogdan
G F
GF
Bartlett
N W
NW
Graham
L B
LB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008281:Maine / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors