Highlights
of a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
Mortality Trends for Alzheimer's Disease
Vital and Health
Statistics, Series 20, No. 28
For release February 29, 1996
New data from the
National Center for Health Statistics document for the first time trends
in deaths from Alzheimer's disease.
Data highlights
Alzheimer's
disease accounted for 16,754 deaths in 1993, 98 percent of which were to
Americans 65 years of age and over.
The
number of people who died from Alzheimer's disease in 1993 was nearly 20
times the number reported in 1979 (857) when the disease was first
identified separately as a cause of death. However, the increase likely
reflects improvements in reporting and diagnosis of the disease rather
than increases in prevalence.
The overall
age-adjusted death rate from Alzheimer's disease increased to 2.3 deaths
per 100,000 in 1993. Rates increased rapidly from 1979 to 1988 before
leveling off between 1988 and 1992.
Death rates from
Alzheimer's disease increase with age. For Americans aged 65-74 years the
death rate was nearly 10 deaths per 100,000 population. For persons aged
75-84 years the rate increased to 64 per 100,000 population and for those
age 85 years and over it was almost 228 per 100,000 population.
Age-adjusted death
rates from Alzheimer's disease were greater for males than for females,
but the differences in rates by sex decreased substantially from 1979 to
1993. Age-adjusted rates were nearly two times higher for the white
population than for the black population.
The State with the
highest reported Alzheimer's death rate was Montana (56 deaths per 100,000
population aged 65 years and over), followed by Utah (52 deaths per
100,000) and Vermont (50 deaths per 100,000). New York had the lowest
reported Alzheimer's death rate (12 deaths per 100,000 population aged 65
years and over), followed by New Jersey (21 deaths per 100,000) and
Pennsylvania (22 deaths per 100,000). The large differences between State
rates probably reflect differences in reporting practices rather than true
differences in prevalence.
Reports are based on
information from death certificates completed by funeral directors,
attending physicians, coroners, and medical examiners. Sources:
"Mortality Trends for Alzheimer's Disease, 1979-91," Vital and
Health Statistics Series 20, No. 28" and "Advance Report of
Final Mortality Statistics, 1993," Monthly Vital Statistics Report,
Volume 44, Supplement, (in production); contact: NCHS, Office of Public
Affairs (301) 436-7551, or via e-mail at paoquery@nch10a.em.cdc.gov. For
more information on Alzheimer's Disease, contact the National Institute on
Aging Public Information Office (301) 496-1752.
For more information,
please contact NCHS, Office of Public Affairs (301) 458-4800, or via
e-mail at paoquery@cdc.gov.
No.
28. Mortality Trends for Alzheimer's Disease, 1979-91. 23 pp.
(PHS) 96-1856. GPO stock number 017-022-01326-6 price $2.50 View/download PDF364
KB