Louise Rollin-Alamillo, M.A., lead author for the study, who is with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, said the leading causes of death that declined were: cancer (15 percent decline), stroke (17 percent decline), heart disease (26 percent decline), chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (29 percent decline), unintentional injuries (32 percent decline), suicide (32 percent decline), homicide (45 percent decline), and HIV/AIDS (77 percent decline). However, the investigators did see a significant increase in mortality from diabetes (53 percent) over the 10-year period.
Data for the study came from deaths organized into leading cause categories according to underlying cause of death on death certificates in LA County. They were calculated by race/ethnicity and standardized using the 2000 U.S. population figures.
Study results showed that all-cause mortality rates declined by 14 percent in African-Americans, by 15 percent in Caucasians (white persons), by 14 percent in Asian/Pacific Islanders, and by 21 percent in Latinos.
Moreover, age-adjusted mortality from diabetes was over two times higher in African-Americans (44 per 100,000 population) than in white persons; it was one and one-half times higher in Latinos (30 per 100,000), when compared with white persons, (19 per 100,000) or with Asian/Pacific Islanders (18 per 100,000).
According to the authors, declining mortality rates for most leading causes of death might reflect the success of intervention efforts. However, racial disparities persist and may be widening despite declining mortality rates.
They believe that these findings highlight the importance of focused primary and secondary prevention efforts, especially those focused on diabetes.