| Demographic Group: | All resident persons. |
| Numerator: | Deaths with International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes I60–I69 (ICD-9 code 430–438) 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, stroke was the third leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for approximately 167,700 deaths. Historically, the southeastern United States has experienced high stroke death rates. |
| Significance: | Modifiable risk factors for stroke include behaviors (e.g., tobacco use, physical inactivity, and improper nutrition) and health status (e.g., untreated hypertension, hyperlipidemia, overweight, or diabetes). Approximately 26% of stroke deaths in the United States are attributable to high blood pressure, and 12% to smoking. Substantial differences in risk and preventive factors exist by race, age, sex, place of residence, and other demographic factors. |
| Limitations of Indicator: | Although the two major types of stroke — hemorrhagic (approximately 10% of stroke) and ischemic (approximately 65% of stroke) — share certain risk factors, their treatment varies. Consequently, accurate interpretation of trends or patterns in total mortality from cerebrovascular disease is difficult. Because cerebrovascular disease has a long latency period, years might pass before changes in behavior or clinical practice patterns affect cerebrovascular disease 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: | 12-7: Reduce stroke deaths. |
