alifornians appear to

be getting healthier in
many respects, with
drops in deaths attributable
to cancer and many other
major illnesses, as well as
homicide and auto acci-
dents, a new statistical
report from the state De-
partment of Public Health
indicates.
However, the state also is
seeing an uptick in deaths
from Alzheimer's disease, as
well as suicide and chronic
liver disease. The report
covers three years 2009-2011 with
comparisons to 2006-2008.
For the first time, too, the state
report on health-related issues com-
pares Californias experiences with the
recommendations of the federal
governments Healthy People 2020
benchmarks.
California averaged 234,637 deaths
a year from all causes during the
2009-11 period for an age-adjusted
rate of 654.9 per 100,000 population.
But the age-adjusted death
rate in the states 58 counties
varied widely, from a low of
516.4 in wealthy Marin County
to 989.2 in nearby Lake
County, which has a high
poverty rate.
The correlation between
affluence or lack thereof
and rates of death was
strong in the report, with the
wealthier Bay Area and
coastal Southern California
counties having the lowest
rates and states poorer
rural counties having the
highest.
When it came to particular causes
of death, however, the correlation
sometimes continued and sometimes
didnt.
Discounting data from counties
with so few cases as to be statistically
insignificant, the department said the
lowest cancer death rate was found in
remote Inyo County, for instance,
while the highest was in equally
remote Trinity County.
1. CANCER
Average state rate:
Age adjusted*
156.4
2. HEART DISEASE
Average state rate:
Age adjusted*
122.4
3. STROKE
Average state rate:
Age adjusted*
38.1
4. LOWER
RESPIRATORY
DISEASE
Average state rate:
Age adjusted* 37.5
5. ALZHEIMERS
Average state rate:
Age adjusted*
30.5
6. ACCIDENTS
Average state rate:

Age adjusted*
27.6
7. DIABETES
Average state rate:
Age adjusted*
20.2
8. INFLUENZA/
PNEUMONIA
Average state rate:
Age adjusted* 17.3
9. LIVER DISEASE
Average state rate:

Age adjusted*
11.4
10. DRUG-INDUCED
Average state rate:
Age adjusted*
10.9
11. SUICIDE
Average state rate:
Age adjusted*
10.2
12. FIREARM-
RELATED
Average state rate:
Age adjusted* 7.8
13. MOTOR VEHICLE
CRASHES
Average state rate:
Age adjusted* 7.5
14. HOMICIDE
Average state rate:
Age adjusted*
5.2
HOW CALIFORNIANS DIE
*The risk of death is primarily a function of old age. Age-adjusted death rates reflect the countys rate if the ages of its population matched the statewide population.
SOURCE: California Department of Public Health Nathaniel Levine nlevine@sacbee.com
KEY FOR
MAPS
Well above
average
state rate
Slightly above
state average
At or below
state average
Not enough data
for reliable rate
BETTER OFF?
A look at how the death rates per 100,000 for 2009-11 compare to the previous
2006-08 rates for the most common causes of death.
CALIFORNIA SAN LUIS OBISPO CO.
Decline Increase
All rates per
100,000 people
HIGHEST
Trinity 200.8
HIGHEST
San Bernardino 33.9
HIGHEST
Solano 49.9
HIGHEST
Stanislaus 165.2
HIGHEST
San Luis Obispo 56.6
HIGHEST
Shasta 71.5
HIGHEST
San Joaquin 16.0
HIGHEST
Tulare 24.6
HIGHEST
Humboldt 22.7
HIGHEST
Madera 18.9
HIGHEST
Shasta 13.8
HIGHEST
San Joaquin 10.4
HIGHEST
Lake 85.7
HIGHEST
Lake 45.3
Previous Current Previous Current
All cancers 162.7 156.4 160.0 153.9
Heart disease 143.7 122.4 109.9 90.5
Stroke 42.8 38.1 48.9 56.6
Lower respiratory disease 39.4 37.5 36.8 37.8
Alzheimers 27.0 30.5 16.0 23.7
Accidents 30.8 27.6 38.0 33.0
Diabetes 22.1 20.2 22.8 13.5
Influenza/pneumonia 20.6 17.3 12.5 11.0
Liver disease 11.2 11.4 10.0 11.0
Drug-induced 11.1 10.9 12.3 14.5
Suicide 9.7 10.2 12.4 16.3
Firearm-related 8.8 7.8 6.7 8.0
Motor vehicle crashes 10.6 7.5 12.1 7.8
Homicide 6.4 5.2 12.4 16.3