Perspectives in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Changes in Premature Mortality -- United States, 1982-1983
Total years of potential life lost (YPLL) for persons who died
in
1983 between their first and 65th birthdays decreased by 2.9% from
1982 to 1983. In this issue, Table V presents updated estimates of
premature mortality based on age- and cause-specific death rates
for
1983 from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The
rate
of YPLL per 1,000 persons in the 1- through 64-year age range
decreased by 3.6%.
The relative ranking of the top four causes of premature
mortality
did not change from 1982 to 1983 (Figure 1). Accidents (i.e.,
unintentional injuries) continued to head the list, with 24.2% of
the
total in 1983. However, its rate fell by 7.3% from the previous
year's level. Although malignant neoplasms and heart disease each
accounted for larger proportions of the total YPLL in 1983, when
their
contributions are expressed as rates, both diseases caused less
premature mortality per 1,000 persons aged 1 through 64 years in
1983
than in 1982. The largest proportional decrease in rate was for
cerebrovascular disease, down by 12.9% from 1982 (Figure 2).
Increases in YPLL per 1,000 persons aged 1 through 64 years
occurred
for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and allied
conditions
(6.5%) and for diabetes mellitus (7.2%).
Congenital anomalies are included in this revision of Table V,
because they account for enough deaths, even after age 1 year, to
rank
seventh as a cause of YPLL.
Reported by Div of Surveillance and Epidemiologic Studies,
Epidemiology Program Office, CDC.
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