Cardiovascular Deaths is measured using a three-year average, age- and race-adjusted death rate due to heart disease, strokes and other cardiovascular disease. The effect of cardiovascular disease on health was measured using mortality data due to the improved accuracy of the data and the ability to adjust for age and race.   

The use of mortality data may not reflect the full impact of cardiovascular disease.  Data used also do not reflect new procedures to treat heart disease and prolong the useful lives of patients. 

Table 38 displays the 2007 ranks, based on 2002 to 2004 data. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)  This component varies from a low of 224.6 deaths from cardiovascular disease per 100,000 population in Hawaii to over 400 deaths per 100,000 population in Oklahoma.  The national average is 317.5 deaths per 100,000 population, down from 326.0 deaths per 100,000 population last year and 406.3 deaths per 100,000 population in 1990.  

In the last year, the rate of deaths from cardiovascular disease decreased by 14.0 deaths per 100,000 population in Utah.  No state experienced an increase.   Since 1990, the rate of deaths from cardiovascular disease declined by more than 100 deaths per 100,000 population in 19 states and by more than 75 deaths per 100,000 population in another 17 states.  Oklahoma experienced the least improvement in the rate of deaths from cardiovascular disease, declining by only 12.2 deaths per 100,000 population.

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