World Hepatitis Day

July 28, 2015

Today is World Hepatitis Day.  Viral hepatitis is a disease of major public health significance in the United States with over 8,000 deaths in 2013. Most infections were caused by three viruses, hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV)

The number of new cases of HAV has declined significantly from 56,797 in 1970 to 1,562 in 2012.  The number of new cases of HBV has also dropped from 8,310 in 1970 to 1,562 in 2012.

HBV infection among persons aged 6-19 has decreased in recent years. By 2003-2006, over 90% of children had received at least one dose of the recommended three-dose series of hepatitis B vaccine.

For more information:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/hepatitis.htm

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Fetal and Perinatal Mortality: United States, 2013

July 23, 2015

A new NCHS report presents 2013 fetal and perinatal mortality data by maternal age, marital status, race, Hispanic origin, and state of residence, as well as by fetal birthweight, gestational age, plurality, and sex. Trends in fetal and perinatal mortality are also examined.

Key Findings from the Report:

  • A total of 23,595 fetal deaths at 20 weeks of gestation or more were reported in the United States in 2013.
  • The U.S. fetal mortality rate was 5.96 fetal deaths at 20 weeks of gestation or more per 1,000 live births and fetal deaths, not significantly different from the rate of 6.05 in 2012.
  • The lack of decline in fetal mortality in recent years, coupled with declines in infant mortality, meant that more fetal deaths than infant deaths occurred in the United States for 2011–2013 (although the rates were essentially the same).
  • In 2013, the fetal mortality rate for non-Hispanic black women (10.53) was more than twice the rate for non-Hispanic white (4.88) and Asian or Pacific Islander (4.68) women. The rate for American Indian or Alaska Native women (6.22) was 27% higher, and the rate for Hispanic women (5.22) was 7% higher, than the rate for non-Hispanic white women.
  • Fetal mortality rates were highest for teenagers, women aged 35 and over, unmarried women, and women with multiple pregnancies.

 

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NCHS Data on Drug Poisoning Deaths

July 23, 2015

Poisoning is the leading cause of injury death in the United States. Drugs—both pharmaceutical and illicit—cause the vast majority of poisoning deaths.

NCHS uses the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) to monitor deaths due to drug poisoning. NVSS collects and compiles mortality information from death certificates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. NCHS identifies the number of drug poisoning deaths from the underlying cause of death on death certificates. Multiple causes of death are used to identify the drugs involved. Approximately 23% of drug poisoning deaths lack information on the specific drugs involved.

An NCHS fact sheet highlights trends in drug-poisoning deaths involving opioid analgesics (referred to as opioid-analgesic poisoning deaths).

Recent Findings

  • Since 2000, the age-adjusted drug poisoning death rate more than doubled, from 6.2 per 100,000 in 2000 to 13.8 per 100,000 in 2013.
  • In 2013, 43,982 deaths were due to drug poisoning; 81% of these deaths were unintentional, 12% were suicides, and 6% were of undetermined intent.
  • In 2011, opioid analgesics were involved in 41% of drug poisoning deaths (16,917 deaths); in 2013, that decreased to 37% (16,235 deaths).
  • The age-adjusted rate for deaths involving opioid analgesics more than tripled from 1.5 per 100,000 in 2000 to 5.4 per 100,000 in 2011, then declined to 5.1 per 100,000 in 2012 and 2013.
  • Nearly 70% of the opioid analgesic poisoning deaths in 2013 involved natural and semisynthetic opioid analgesics such as hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone

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Sexual Activity, Contraceptive Use, and Childbearing of Teenagers Aged 15–19 in the United States

July 22, 2015

Monitoring sexual activity and contraceptive use among U.S. adolescents is important for understanding differences in their risk of pregnancy. In 2013, the U.S. birth rate for teenagers aged 15–19 dropped 57% from its peak in 1991, paralleling a decline in the teen pregnancy rate. But these rates are still higher than those in other developed countries.

Using data from the 1988 to 2011–2013 National Survey of Family Growth, this report provides trends and recent national estimates of sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing among teenagers aged 15–19.

Key Findings from the Report:

  • In 2011–2013, 44% of female teenagers and 47% of male teenagers aged 15–19 had experienced sexual intercourse; the percentage has declined significantly, by 14% for female and 22% for male teenagers, over the past 25 years.
  • In the early teen years males were more likely than females to have had sexual intercourse. But the percentage of older teenagers who had sexual intercourse was similar for female and male teenagers.
  • In 2011–2013, 79% of female teenagers and 84% of male teenagers used a contraceptive method at first sexual intercourse.
  • The condom remained the most common contraceptive method used among teenagers.
  • Young women who did not use a method of contraception at first sexual intercourse were twice as likely to become teen mothers as those who used a method.

 

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Health Care Access and Utilization Among Adults Aged 18–64, by Race and Hispanic Origin: United States, 2013 and 2014

July 15, 2015

In 2014, U.S. adults could buy a private health insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace or state-based exchanges established as part of the Affordable Care Act. Moreover, some states opted to expand Medicaid coverage to low-income adults.

This report has data from the 2013 and 2014 National Health Interview Survey used to describe recent changes in health insurance coverage and selected measures of health care access and utilization for adults aged 18–64, by race and Hispanic origin.

Key Findings from the Report:

  • Compared with 2013, adults aged 18–64 who were uninsured at the time of interview decreased in 2014 for Hispanic (41.1% to 34.1%), non-Hispanic white (14.5% to 11.5%), non-Hispanic black (24.7% to 17.6%), and non-Hispanic Asian (16.1% to 12.1%) adults.
  • Adults aged 18–64 who had a usual place to go for medical care increased in 2014 for Hispanic (69.1% to 73.0%) and non-Hispanic white (84.3% to 85.6%) adults.
  • Adults aged 18–64 who had seen or talked to a health care professional in the past 12 months increased in 2014 for Hispanic (67.5% to 70.1%) adults.
  • Adults aged 18–64 who did not obtain needed medical care due to cost at some time during the past 12 months decreased in 2014 for Hispanic (9.9% to 7.6%) and non-Hispanic white (7.7% to 7.0%) adults.

 

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STATE VITALS: OHIO

July 9, 2015

The state of Ohio scores lower than the nation overall in births to cesarean deliveries and a larger proportion of its population with health insurance than the national average .

However, the buckeye state has mortality rates that are higher than the U.S. for all of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States that include: heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, accidents, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, influenza/pneumonia, kidney disease and suicide.

Here is a list of the 15 leading causes of death in Ohio in 2013 with ICD 10 codes:

1 Diseases of heart (I00-I09,I11,I13,I20-I51)

2 Malignant neoplasms (C00-C97)

3 Chronic lower respiratory diseases (J40-J47)

4 Cerebrovascular diseases (I60-I69)

5 Accidents (unintentional injuries) (V01-X59,Y85-Y86)

6 Alzheimer’s disease (G30)

7 Diabetes mellitus (E10-E14)

8 Influenza and pneumonia (J09-J18)

9 Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis (N00-N07,N17-N19,N25-N27)

10 Septicemia (A40-A41)

11 Intentional self-harm (suicide) (U03,X60-X84,Y87.0)

12 Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (K70,K73-K74)

13 Essential hypertension and hypertensive renal disease (I10,I12,I15)

14 Parkinson’s disease (G20-G21)

15 Pneumonitis due to solids and liquids (J69)

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Differences in Stroke Mortality Among Adults Aged 45 and Over: United States, 2010–2013

July 8, 2015

Despite steady decreases in U.S. stroke mortality over the past several decades, stroke remained the fourth leading cause of death during 2010–2012 and the fifth leading cause in 2013.

Most studies have focused on the excess mortality experienced by black persons compared with white persons and by residents of the southeastern states, referred to as the Stroke Belt. Few stroke mortality studies have focused on Asian or Pacific Islander and Hispanic persons or have explored urban–rural differences.

A new NCHS report provides updated information about stroke mortality among U.S. residents aged 45 and over during 2010–2013 by age, race and ethnicity, income,  urban–rural residence, and residence inside or outside the Stroke Belt.

Key Findings from the Report:

  • During 2010–2013, the age-adjusted stroke death rate for non-Hispanic black men aged 45 and over (154.8 deaths per 100,000 population) was 54% to 68% higher than the rates for men of the same age in other race-ethnicity groups. The rate for non-Hispanic black women aged 45 and over was 30% to 61% higher than the rates for women of the same age in other race-ethnicity groups.
  • The age distribution of stroke deaths differed by race and ethnicity.
  • Stroke death rates were 32% higher in counties in the lowest median household income quartile than in counties in the highest income quartile.
  • Nonmetropolitan counties had higher stroke death rates than counties at other urbanization levels.
  • Stroke mortality inside and outside the Stroke Belt differed by race and ethnicity.

 

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