By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – Fewer Missourians are dying from heart disease and strokes, but the death rates remain above the national average.
Those are some of the findings of a 10-year study released today.
Among the results, the death rates in Missouri for strokes and for heart disease have dropped 24% and 27%, respectively, since 1995.
Kris Kummerfeld co-wrote the report for the Department of Health and Senior Services.
"Emergency response is certainly improved...the quality of care is improved...I think that's certainly a factor," Kummerfeld said.
Kummerfeld also cited improved awareness as a factor for the decline in deaths.
"Those factors, the obesity, nutrition...there's widespread knowledge now, I think, about smoking, and how that's a contributing factor to heart disease and stroke," Kummerfeld said.
Still, in 2005 Missouri ranked 7th highest in the U.S. in stroke prevalence, and 9th highest in heart disease prevalence.
Also, the death rates for black Missourians from heart disease and stroke were one-fourth to one-third higher than for whites.
The full report can be found on the Department of Health and Senior Services' website:
www.dhss.mo.gov/HeartDisease/
Click on the "What's new" link, then click on, "The Burden of Heart Disease and Stroke in Missouri, 2008."