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Table 14. SpecificLeadingCauses ofDeath
a
amongArizonaResidentMales, 65Years and
Older, 2002 ? 2012
Notes:
a
LeadingCauses ofDeath are conditions identified as the top conditions for 2012 and defined by the
International Statistical ClassificationofDiseases andRelatedHealthProblems, 10thRevision (ICD-10), 2008
Edition;
b
Age-specific crudemortality rates represent the number of deaths per 100,000 resident females, 65 years
of age and older.
5.4Conclusion
Mortality analyses ofArizona?s resident population of older adults reveals changes inmortality
trends that can be used to inform and influence public policy aswell as track the success of
public health initiatives. Chronic diseases that aremost detrimental to the oldest Arizonans,
exemplified byAlzheimer?s disease among females, will become increasinglyproblematic as the
population of olderArizonans expands. Alzheimer?s is currently an incurable disease that has
few clear causal factors other than age,meaningour healthcare, welfare, and social support
systemsmust prepare for the increasingmonetary and social costs associatedwith caring for
older adults experiencingAlzheimer?s disease. On the other hand, themortality rates for a
number of the leading causes of death have decreased substantially amongArizona?s older
adults, namely atherosclerotic heart and cardiovascular disease amongbothmen andwomen,
stroke amongwomen, and both lung and prostate cancer amongmen. These successes indicate
that interventions designed to help older adults lead healthier lives and seekmedical treatment
when necessaryhave proven successful for chronic diseases that are somewhat preventable.
Even the decrease in leading causes of death such as heart disease and cancer foretell the
increased burden that will be exerted in the future byAlzheimer?s disease and dementia. Being
spared by chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer that typically causemortality in the
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Total
Percent
Change
2002 - 2012
Counts byAgeGroup
65-74Years
4,256 4,211 4,164 4,345 4,298 4,225 4,365 4,481 4,622 4,767 5,010 48,744
18
75-84Years
6,172 6,298 6,064 6,383 6,204 6,046 6,259 6,068 6,163 6,342 6,427 68,426
4
85Years andOver
4,080 4,057 4,176 4,473 4,620 4,604 4,917 4,960 5,228 5,423 5,664 52,202
39
Total (AllMales 65Years andOlder)
14,508 14,566 14,404 15,201 15,122 14,875 15,541 15,509 16,013 16,532 17,101 169,372
18
Counts byCause ofDeath
AtheroscleroticHeartDisease
1,452 1,490 1,485 1,590 1,441 1,401 1,500 1,502 1,534 1,645 1,652 16,692
14
MalignantNeoplasmofBronchus andLung (LungCancer)
1,022 1,111 1,086 1,060 1,109 1,046 1,100 1,119 1,091 1,138 1,141 12,023
12
ChronicObstructive PulmonaryDisease (COPD)
883 870 776 897 964 967 858 903 917 963 1,056 10,054
20
Alzheimer'sDisease
417 494 504 547 601 605 644 674 738 749 717 6,690
72
AtheroscleroticCardiovascularDisease
684 724 690 679 674 643 688 724 661 731 689 7,587
1
AcuteMyocardial Infarction
1,047 966 896 883 753 690 717 685 599 717 664 8,617
-37
Dementia
275 309 321 325 409 435 433 414 509 560 574 4,564
109
MalignantNeoplasmofProstate (ProstateCancer)
510 507 495 512 458 505 500 498 508 519 513 5,525
1
Stroke
525 454 464 458 399 368 401 414 403 393 420 4,699
-20
Parkinson's Disease
249 224 241 285 287 259 296 273 290 309 358 3,071
44
Total
7,064 7,149 6,958 7,236 7,095 6,919 7,137 7,206 7,250 7,724 7,784 79,522
10
MortalityRates
b
AtheroscleroticHeartDisease
459.6 458.4 440.8 454.9 404.0 374.3 394.0 391.1 381.9 406.7 385.2
-16
MalignantNeoplasmofBronchus andLung (LungCancer)
323.5 341.8 322.4 303.3 311.0 279.5 289.0 291.4 271.6 281.3 266.0
-18
ChronicObstructive PulmonaryDisease (COPD)
279.5 267.7 230.3 256.6 270.3 258.4 225.4 235.1 228.3 238.1 246.2
-12
Alzheimer'sDisease
132.0 152.0 149.6 156.5 168.5 161.6 169.2 175.5 183.7 185.2 167.2
27
AtheroscleroticCardiovascularDisease
216.5 222.7 204.8 194.3 189.0 171.8 180.7 188.5 164.6 180.7 160.7
-26
AcuteMyocardial Infarction
331.4 297.2 266.0 252.6 211.1 184.4 188.3 178.4 149.1 177.3 154.8
-53
Dementia
87.1 95.1 95.3 93.0 114.7 116.2 113.7 107.8 126.7 138.4 133.8
54
MalignantNeoplasmofProstate (ProstateCancer)
161.4 156.0 146.9 146.5 128.4 134.9 131.3 129.7 126.5 128.3 119.6
-26
Stroke
166.2 139.7 137.7 131.0 111.9 98.3 105.3 107.8 100.3 97.2 97.9
-41
Parkinson's disease
78.8 68.9 71.5 81.5 80.5 69.2 77.8 71.1 72.2 76.4 83.5
6
Total
2,236.1 2,199.5 2,065.4 2,070.1 1,989.4 1,848.7 1,874.8 1,876.3 1,804.9 1,909.5 1,815.0
-19
