Myth VS Fact: Core Leading Causes of Death

Center For Disease Control (US Gov.)

“According to 2001 data, the 10 leading causes of death in the United States are:

  1. heart disease
  2. cancer
  3. stroke
  4. chronic lower respiratory disease
  5. accidents
  6. diabetes
  7. pneumonia/flu
  8. Alzheimer's disease
  9. kidney disease
  10. suicide

The report is based on data from death records filed by State vital statistics offices and reported to CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics through the National Vital Statistics System. For more information on the system or to view and download a copy of the report check the CDC/NCHS Web site.

To see a state-by-state listing of these leading causes of death (as well as other selected leading causes), click here.”

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/03facts/mortalitytrends.htm

 

1

Causes of death

Number

Deaths per
100,000 population

 

All causes

2,416,425

848.5

1.

Diseases of heart

700,142

245.8

2.

Malignant neoplasms (cancer)

553,768

194.4

3.

Cerebrovascular diseases

163,538

57.4

4.

Chronic lower respiratory diseases

123,013

43.2

5.

Accidents (unintentional injuries)

101,537

35.7

6.

Diabetes mellitus

71,372

25.1

7.

Influenza and pneumonia

62,034

21.8

8.

Alzheimer's disease

53,852

18.9

9.

Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis

39,480

13.9

10.

Septicemia

32,238

11.3

11.

Suicide

30,622

10.8

12.

Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis

27,035

9.5

13.

Homicide

20,308

7.1

14.

Hypertension and hypertensive renal disease

19,250

6.8

15.

Pneumonitis due to solids and liquids

17,301

6.1

 

All other causes

400,935

140.8

1. Rank based on number of deaths.

Source: U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, vol. 52, no. 3, Sept. 18, 2003. Web: www.cdc.gov/nchs .

 

 

Leading Causes of Death (From CDC)

Idaho2 

Cause of death

Total deaths

Age-adjusted death rate1

National rate1

HIV (AIDS)3

12

*

5.0

Heart disease

2,489

205.1

247.8

Cancer

2,093

172.2

196.0

Stroke

781

64.7

57.9

Chronic lower respiratory disease

581

48.4

43.7

Accidents

568

44.0

35.7

Influenza/pneumonia

239

19.6

22.0

Diabetes

318

26.2

25.1

Alzheimer's disease

294

24.4

19.1

Chronic liver disease/cirrhosis3

105

8.5

9.5

kidney diseases

95

7.9

14.0

Motor vehicle accidents4

256

19.3

15.3

Suicide

210

16.3

10.7

Homicide3

41

3.1

7.1

Firearm injury5

175

13.5

10.3

New York2

Cause of death

Total deaths

Age-adjusted death rate1

National rate1

HIV (AIDS)3

2,085

10.7

5.0

Heart disease

56,643

282.2

247.8

Cancer

36,975

187.7

196.0

Stroke

7,706

38.4

57.9

Chronic lower respiratory disease

6,906

34.8

43.7

Accidents

4,982

25.6

35.7

Influenza/pneumonia

5,085

25.2

22.0

Diabetes

3,884

19.4

25.3

Alzheimer's disease

1,705

8.4

19.1

Chronic liver disease/cirrhosis3

1,488

7.6

9.5

kidney diseases

2,421

12.2

14.0

Motor vehicle accidents4

1,678

8.7

15.3

Suicide

1,253

6.5

10.7

Homicide3

2,818

14.5

7.1

Firearm injury5

1,068

5.6

10.3

1Number of deaths per 100,000 population.

2Data are for 2001

3Not ranked as one of the 10 leading causes of death for the total U.S. population, but a leading cause of death in certain demographic groups.

4Not ranked as one of the 10 leading causes of death; a subcategory of "Accidents."

5Not ranked as one of the 10 leading causes of death: a subcategory of Accidents, Homicide, and Suicide.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/03facts/mortalitytables.htm