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Cerebrovascular disease mortality declined faster as an underlying cause than an associated cause. Eliminating stroke as a cause of death had less impact in 1978 than 1968, with varying effects across demographics.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- Examined U.S. multiple cause of death data from 1968-1978.
- Focused on cerebrovascular disease (CVD) mortality's role as an underlying and associated cause of death.
- Observed a faster decline in CVD as an underlying cause compared to an associated cause.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in cerebrovascular disease mortality.
- To assess the changing role of CVD as an associated cause of death.
- To evaluate the impact of eliminating CVD as a cause of death on life expectancy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized U.S. multiple cause of death data (1968-1978).
- Employed cause elimination life table analysis.
- Calculated life expectancy gains from eliminating CVD as a cause of death.
Main Results:
- CVD mortality declined significantly as an underlying cause versus an associated cause.
- Projected impact of eliminating stroke as a cause of death decreased from 1968 to 1978.
- Life expectancy gains from eliminating CVD ranged from 9 years (white males) to 18 years (nonwhite females).
Conclusions:
- Suggests a potential shift in CVD's role as an associated cause of death.
- The impact of stroke elimination on life expectancy is diminishing over time.
- Significant disparities exist in life expectancy gains across demographic groups.
Abstract:
U.S. multiple cause of death data were examined for the period 1968-1978. Specifically, the role of cerebrovascular disease mortality as an underlying and associated cause of death was studied. The number of deaths where cerebrovascular disease was cited as the underlying cause of death declined much faster than the number of deaths where cerebrovascular disease was cited as the associated cause of death. This trend is indicative of a possible change in the role of cerebrovascular disease as an associated cause of death. Cause elimination life tables were constructed for cerebrovascular disease as the underlying cause of death and as any cause of death. In the general population, eliminating stroke as a cause of death is projected to have less impact in 1978 than in 1968, for men than for women, and for whites than for nonwhites. Tables were also constructed to examine the life expectancy gains for the group of individuals who died of cerebrovascular disease. For these individuals, the gain in life expectancy at birth ranges from 9 years for white males to 18 years for nonwhite females.