Deaths due to Stroke
Summary Indicator Report Data View Options
Why Is This Important?
Stroke was the fifth leading cause of death in New Jersey and the US in 2020. It is a major cause of serious disability for adults and it is preventable and treatable.
Definition
Deaths with cerebrovascular disease (stroke) as the underlying cause of death. ICD-10 codes: I60-I69
Data Sources
- Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
(https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/) - Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
(https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/) - Underlying Cause of Death, CDC WONDER On-line Database, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(https://wonder.cdc.gov/Deaths-by-Underlying-Cause.html)
How the Measure is Calculated
Numerator: | Number of deaths due to stroke |
Denominator: | Estimated number of persons in the population |
How Are We Doing?
In New Jersey, more than 3,500 deaths each year are due to stroke. The age-adjusted death rate due to stroke was steadily declining before slight increases in 2019 and 2020. Blacks have the highest age-adjusted death rate due to stroke and experienced a large (25%) increase between 2019 and 2020 while the rate among Asians rose 6%, among Whites 2%, and decreased among Hispanics. It is conceivable that the COVID-19 pandemic caused an increase in deaths due to delays in medical care and fears of going to the hospital and being exposed to COVID. In the total population and among each racial/ethnic group, males have a higher death rate than females. County rates range from a low of 22.2 deaths per 100,000 residents (age-adjusted) in Hunterdon to a high of 48.5 in Salem. The Healthy New Jersey 2020 (HNJ2020) target was achieved by Blacks in 2018-2019 but the rate rose above the target in 2020. No other racial/ethnic group achieved its HNJ2020 target during the decade.
How Do We Compare With the U.S.?
The rate among New Jerseyans is statistically significantly below the US rate.
Evidence-based Practices
CDC: [https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/prevention/index.html Preventing Stroke]
More Resources
NJDOH Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program: [http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/chronic/heart-disease-stroke/] NJDOH Acute Stroke Services: [http://www.nj.gov/health/healthcarequality/health-care-professionals/cardiac-stroke-services/stroke-services/index.shtml] CDC Stroke Info: [https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/about/index.html]