Focus on Chronic Disease
For Immediate Release
January 21, 2000
For Additional Information Contact:
Michael Mullet
Community Relations Coordinator
(616) 336-222
COMMUNITY HEALTHWATCH FOCUSES ON CHRONIC DISEASE
The Kent County Health Department today released the newest Community HealthWatch Report Card which focuses on chronic disease. The new HealthWatch reports the most recent Kent County data for heart disease deaths, cancer deaths, and diabetes-related deaths. Download Community HealthWatch (1 page, PDF file - 33kb).
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Kent County, the State of Michigan and the United States as a whole. Although heart disease death rates in Kent County have declined by 12% over the last decade, it still accounts for 31% of all deaths in Kent County. However, one of the leading public health achievements of the last 50 years has been an overall decline of deaths from heart disease. This decline is likely due to a variety of factors such as a significant decrease in cigarette smoking among adults, improvements in diet, and medical advancements in cardiology. Most notably, prevention and screening programs for heart disease risk factors such as hypertension and high cholesterol have resulted in a significant reduction in associated mortality rates.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Kent County, Michigan and the United States. Death rates have decreased by 10% since 1990-92. This suggests that the possibility of preventing and surviving cancer may be improving. Research indicates that 50 percent or more of cancer incidence may be prevented through smoking cessation and changed dietary habits (the same lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of heart disease). Additionally prevention and early detection programs, as well as substantial advances in the understanding and treatment of cancer have also played a role in the decline of cancer-associated mortality.
The rate of diabetes-related deaths in Kent County has remained relatively stable over the last decade, declining slightly in the latter half of the 1990's. Increased awareness of this disease generally, as well as increased emphasis on the prevention and control of adult-onset diabetes have likely contributed to this decline, though it is too soon to tell if these rates will continue to decrease. Prolonging and improving the quality of life for those with this disease will be a challenge for those individuals and the health care community in the 21st century.
The Community HealthWatch Report Cards are developed by the Kent County Health Department to report on the status of community health priorities identified by Healthy Kent 2000. Healthy Kent identified chronic disease, infant mortality, violence, AIDS and sexually transmitted infections, and substance abuse as leading community health concerns. In 2000, the Health Department will issue six Community HealthWatch Report Cards, one on each of the community health priorities, and, for the first time, one on Environmental Health in Kent County.
