Chronic Liver Disease and American Indians/Alaska Natives

Among American Indians and Alaska Natives, chronic liver disease is a leading cause of death. While the cause is not always known, some cases can be initiated by conditions such as chronic alcoholism, obesity, and exposure to Hepatitis B and C viruses.

In 2005, chronic liver disease was the fifth leading cause of death for all American Indian/Alaska Native men, and the third leading cause of death for men, ages 35-44.
American Indian/Alaska Native men and women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with chronic liver disease, as compared to non-Hispanic Whites.
American Indian/Alaska Natives receiving treatment in contract health services have a higher mortality rate than those receiving care through the Indian Health Service facilities.
The overall death rate for American Indian/Alaska Natives is 2.6 times higher than for the White population.
In 2005, chronic liver disease was the second leading cause of death for American Indian/Alaska Native women, ages 35-44.

At a glance – Cancer Rates for American Indian/Alaska Natives (2001-2005):

**Cancer Incidence Rates per 100,000 – Men**
Cancer	All Men	American Indian Men	Non-Hispanic White Men	American Indian/Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites	549.3	336.6	568.3	0.6
Liver & IBD*	9.9	14.4	7.3	2.0

**Cancer Incidence Rates per 100,000 – Women**
Cancer	All Women	American Indian Women	Non-Hispanic White Women	American Indian/Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites	411.0	296.4	439.7	0.7
Liver & IBD*	3.5	6.3	2.6	2.4

*IBD = Intrahepatic Bile Duct

Source: : NCI 2008. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2005. Tables I-24, I-25, and XIV-10
http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2005

At a glance – Diagnosed:

**Age-adjusted percentage of persons 18 years of age and over who have been told by a doctor that they have chronic liver disease, 2006**
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
-*	1.4	-

*Data not available at this time.

Source: CDC 2007. Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: 2006. Table 8.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_235.pdf

At a glance – Death Rate:

Cancer Death Rates per 100,000 – Men (2001-2005)
Cancer: Liver & IBD*
Population	American Indian/Alaska Native Men	Non-Hispanic White Men	American Indian/Alaska Native/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Total AI/NA	8.0	6.3	1.3
CHSDA Counties	10.6	6.3	1.7
Non-CHSDA Counties**	4.8	6.3	0.8

Cancer Death Rates per 100,000 – Women (2001-2005)
Cancer: Liver & IBD*
Population	American Indian/Alaska Native Women	Non-Hispanic White Women	American Indian/Alaska Native/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Total AI/NA	4.7	2.7	1.7
CHSDA Counties	6.6	2.7	2.4
Non-CHSDA Counties**	2.1	2.7	0.8

*IBD = Intrahepatic Bile Duct **Contract Health Service Delivery Area, delivered by a non-IHS facility or provider

Source: NCI 2008. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2005. Tables XIV-10
http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2005

**Age-Adjusted Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis Death Rates per 100,000 (2005)**
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native/Non-Hispanic White Ratio
22.6	8.7	2.6

Source: CDC, 2007. Health United States, 2007. Table 29
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus07.pdf

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Content Last Modified: 7/30/2008 7:34:00 AM