| Demographic Group: | All resident persons. |
| Numerator: | Deaths with International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes I00–I09, I11, I13, I20–I51 (ICD-9 codes 390–398, 402, 404, 410–429) as the underlying cause of death among residents during a calendar year. |
| Denominator: | Midyear resident population for the same calendar year. |
| Measures of Frequency: | Annual number of deaths. Annual mortality rate — crude and age-adjusted (standardized by the direct method to the year 2000 standard U.S. population, distribution 1*) — with 95% confidence interval. |
| Time Period of Case Definition: | Calendar year. |
| Background: | During 2000, heart disease was the largest component of cardiovascular disease mortality, accounting for approximately 710,800 deaths. The age-adjusted rate among males (320.0/100,000) is greater than the age-adjusted rate among females (210.9/100,000). |
| Significance: | Modifiable risk factors for heart disease include behaviors (e.g., tobacco use, physical inactivity, and improper nutrition), health status (e.g., hypertension, hyperlipidemia, overweight, or diabetes), and policies (e.g., smoking policies in restaurants and worksites). Substantial differences in heart disease death rates and preventive measures exist by race, age, sex, place of residence, and other demographic factors. |
| Limitations of Indicator: | Heart disease is not a single disease, but rather multiple diseases with different causes, risks, and potential interventions. Interpretation of trends or patterns in mortality from heart disease can be made only by examination of specific types of heart disease. Because certain types of heart disease have a long latency period, years might pass before changes in behavior or clinical practice affect heart disease mortality. Certain types of heart disease (e.g., valvular and congenital heart disease) are not amenable to primary prevention or screening. |
| Data Resources: | Death certificate data from vital statistics agencies (numerator) and population estimates from the U.S. Bureau of the Census or suitable alternative (denominator).
http://wonder.cdc.gov |
| Limitations of Data Resources: | Causes of death and other variables listed on the death certificate might be inaccurate. |
| Healthy People 2010 Objectives: | No objective. |
