Atlas shows mortality patterns
An atlas mapping the leading causes of death by race and sex for small geographic areas throughout the United States has been released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The Atlas of United States Mortality identifies high-risk areas for heart disease, cancer, stroke and violence deaths in America. It was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, and reveals shifts from previously documented mortality patterns and points to new areas now at greater risk.
The atlas maps death rates for 1988-92 for 805 clusters of counties defined on the basis of where county residents obtain hospital care.
Key findings show geographic patterns or shifts in the three top causes of death heart disease, cancer and stroke.
For instance, death rates for heart disease, the nation’s leading cause of death, are higher in the southeastern United States than in the northeastern states, the region previously with the highest rates. While heart disease death rates have dropped in all areas for more than 30 years, rates in northeastern states have declined faster than in the Southeast, leaving the southeastern states with relatively high rates today.
The atlas is available from the National Center for Health Statistics, 6525 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782.
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