| Demographic Group: | All resident persons. |
| Numerator: | Deaths with International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes I11, I20–I25 (ICD-9 codes 402, 410–414, 429.2) 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, coronary heart disease (CHD) was the largest component of heart disease mortality, accounting for approximately 539,000 deaths. |
| Significance: | Modifiable risk factors for CHD 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 CHD death rates and preventive measures exist by race, age, sex, place of residence, and other demographic factors. |
| Limitations of Indicator: | The coding of death from CHD, especially use of ICD-9 429.2, “cardiovascular disease, unspecified,” varies geographically. Historically, epidemiologists have used different groups of ICD rubrics to monitor CHD mortality. This has created differences in published mortality measures. Because CHD might have a long preclinical phase, years might pass before changes in behavior or clinical practice affect population mortality. |
| 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: | 12-1: Reduce coronary heart disease deaths. |
