QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Death Rates* --- United States, 2008

April 15, 2011 / 60(14);447

* Per 100,000 U.S. standard population.

† Data for 2008 are preliminary.

In 2008, the overall age-adjusted death rate in the United States was 758.7 per 100,000 population. Among states, the rate ranged from 589.0 deaths per 100,000 population in Hawaii to 958.5 in West Virginia. In general, death rates were higher among states in the South and lower among states in the Northeast and West census regions.

Source: Miniño AM, Xu JQ, Kochanek KD. Deaths: preliminary data for 2008. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2010;59(2).

ICU Stay Hikes Mortality Risk

Association Between Hand-Grip Strength And Poor Survival In Seniors

from Medical News Today

Poor or declining handgrip strength in the oldest old is associated with poor survival and may be used as a tool to assess mortality, found an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) The fastest growing segment of the elderly population is the group older than 85 years, classified as the oldest old.

Low handgrip strength has been consistently linked to premature mortality, disability and other health complications in middle-aged and older people. Handgrip strength, a simple bedside tool, can be an alternative way of measuring overall muscular strength.

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