Leading Noninfectious Diseases

Name Date Class

Fighting Disease ■ Enrich

Leading Noninfectious Diseases

Each year in the United States, more than 65 percent of all deaths are caused by noninfectious diseases. The table below provides information about deaths due to four noninfectious diseases in 1979 and in 1996. Over time, the percentage of deaths due to each noninfectious disease may change, as can the death rate, which is the average number of deaths for each 100,000 people in one year. For example, the percent of deaths due to heart disease decreased from 37 percent of total deaths in 1979 to 32 percent in 1996. The death rate due to cancer stayed about the same between 1976 and 1996. Changes in the habits of people and in medicine may account for the differences.

1979 / 1996
Disease / Percent of Total Deaths / Number of
Deaths per
100,000 people / Percent of Total Deaths / Number of
Deaths per
100,000 people
Heart / 37 / 398 / 32 / 275
Cancer / 19 / 207 / 23 / 205
Stroke / 9 / 94 / 7 / 60
Diabetes / 2 / 17 / 3 / 23

Study the table and answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. In 1979, there were about 1,913,000 deaths in the United States. In 1996 there were about 2,322,000 deaths. Did more people die from heart disease in 1979 or 1996? To answer this, multiply the total number of deaths times the percentage of deaths due to heart disease.

2. Even though more people died in 1996 than in 1979, the death rate for many diseases went down. How is it possible that death rates can go down while the total number of deaths goes up?

3. The death rate for one disease has actually increased since 1979. Which disease is that? Give at least one reason why the death rate for this disease has increased.

4. Based on your general knowledge, express a hypothesis to explain the percent change in deaths due to heart disease between 1979 and 1996.