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Bulletin No. 3 Mortality from CVD in Alaska Each year, approximately 670 Alaskans die of cardiovascular disease.2 The major components of CVD, heart disease and stroke, account for 26.7% of all Alaska deaths. CVD is not just a disease of the elderly. Coronary heart disease kills a substantial number of relatively young people, especially men, in their most productive years of life. In Alaska, 35% of all coronary heart disease deaths occur among people under age 65 years. In 1950 the major cause of death among Alaska Native people was infectious diseases, and the mortality rate from CVD was much higher among non-Native people than among Native people (Table 1).3 By the 1980’s, cancer, heart disease and injuries had become the leading causes of death among Alaska Natives as well as among non-Natives. Furthermore, the CVD rate has fallen dramatically among non-native people so that Alaska Natives now have higher CVD mortality rates than do non-Natives (Table 1).4
Alaska’s mortality rate from heart disease is lower than that for the U.S., whereas the
mortality rate for stroke is similar to the U.S. rate (Table 2).
Risk Factors for CVD Mortality from heart disease has been declining in Alaska and in the U.S.
during the past several decades. Despite the fact that mortality is decreasing, data from
Alaska’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System indicates that a substantial proportion of
Alaskans remain at risk for CVD (Table 3).6 Among Alaska adults, 28.9% smoke
cigarettes, 48.2% have a sedentary lifestyle, 28.2% are overweight, and only 18.8% eat five
fruits and vegetables per day. Furthermore, there are gaps in our knowledge about risk factors
in the population. Although we know that 92.5% of adult Alaskans have had their blood pressure
checked in the past 2 years, we have no information about how many with hypertension have their
blood pressure under control. Similarly, we know that 62.1% of adult Alaskans have been
screened for cholesterol in the past 5 years, but we do not know how many are being treated or
how they responded to treatment.
Discussion The Alaska Division of Public Health is working with a group of interested individuals and agencies to develop a statewide plan for the prevention and control of CVD. In Alaska, we would like to develop a plan with the following characteristics: 1) relevant for the entire state, including all areas and all race/ethnic groups; 2) action oriented; 3) based on interventions known to be effective, and 4) emphasis on CVD prevention rather than treatment. The plan will deal with a number of important issues, including:
• Systems issues (Leadership/coordination/collaboration, legislation, funding) Individuals interested in participating in development of the plan can contact Dr. Catherine Schumacher in the Section of Epidemiology. Those interested in learning more about Heart Month can contact Tracy McFall at the American Heart Association, Alaska Affiliate at 563-3111 ext. 24.
References
1. Smith CA, Pratt M. Cardiovascular disease. In: Brownson RC, Remington PL, Davis JR. eds. Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Control. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association; 1993.
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