In 2005 twelve causes accounted for 80% of all deaths in the United States; thirteen accounted for 80% of all deaths in Maine. In both, heart disease and cancer alone caused nearly half of all deaths; stroke, lower respiratory diseases (such as bronchitis, emphysema, asthma), and accidents accounted for another 16 percent.
In 1999, comparable data show that, in the United States, heart disease accounted for 30.3% of all deaths; cancer, 23%. In Maine the proportions were 27.9% and 24.8% respectively. In both, heart disease has declined but is still the number one cause of death.
Causes of Death by Gender
- More Maine women die from heart disease than men
- More Maine women die from stroke than men
- Heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 killer of women in Maine.
- Heart disease and stroke account for 28.8% of all female deaths in Maine.
- On average, more than 5 females die from heart disease and stroke in Maine each day.
Cause of death in Maine for individuals is confidential by law and is available only to authorized people. See how Maine counties rank in “mortality.”
| United States 2005 | Maine 2005 | |||||
| Number | % | Rate/100K | Number | % | Rate/100K | |
| Causes | 2,448,017 | 100 | 825.9 | 12,868 | 100 | 973.7 |
| Heart Disease | 652,091 | 26.6 | 220 | 2,941 | 22.9 | 222.5 |
| Cancer | 559,312 | 22.8 | 188.7 | 3,218 | 25.0 | 243.5 |
| Stroke | 143,579 | 5.9 | 48.4 | 693 | 5.4 | 52.4 |
| Lung Disease |
130,933 | 5.3 | 44.2 | 830 | 6.5 | 62.8 |
| Accidents | 117,809 | 4.8 | 39.7 | 579 | 4.5 | 43.8 |
| Diabetes | 75,119 | 3.1 | 25.3 | 385 | 3.0 | 29.1 |
| Alzheimer’s | 71,599 | 2.9 | 24.2 | 476 | 3.7 | 36 |
| Flu, Pneumonia | 63,001 | 2.6 | 21.3 | 352 | 2.7 | 26.6 |
| Kidney Disease | 43,901 | 1.8 | 14.8 | 250 | 1.9 | 18.9 |
| Blood Poison | 34,136 | 1.4 | 11.5 | 131 | 1.0 | 9.9 |
| Suicide | 32,637 | 1.3 | 11 | 175 | 1.4 | 13.2 |
| Liver Disease | 27,530 | 1.1 | 9.3 | 116 | 0.9 | 8.8 |
| N-M Tumor | 110 | 0.9 | 8.3 | |||
| High Blood Pressure | 24,902 | 1.0 | 8.4 | |||
| Parkinson’s |
19,544 | 0.8 | 6.6 | 131 | 1.0 | 9.9 |
| Inflammation of the Lung | 102 | 0.8 | 7.7 | |||
Lung Disease = Lung Diseases: Bronchitis, Emphysema, Asthma
N-M Tumor = Non-malignant Tumors
For the disease codes describing the specific causes, see http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/datawh/statab/unpubd/mortabs/lcwk9_10.htm (accessed 12/21/2008).
Additional resources
American Heart Association. “Women and Cardiovascular Disease State Facts: Maine,” http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1217521852550Maine.pdf “Classification of Diseases and Functioning & Disability” (accessed August 29, 2011)
Healthy Maine Partnerships. “Women & Cardiovascular Disease in Maine 2004.” http://www.healthymainepartnerships.org/downloads/Women_CVD_Fact.pdf (accessed August 29, 2011)