Actual causes of death in Alaska

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Katie Cueva, Andrea Fenaughty
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2020
• Subjects: epidemiology; health disparities; obesity; alaska native; smoking; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Circumpolar Health; International Journal of Circumpolar Health; Alaska
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2020.1780068; https://doaj.org/article/803a840913b54b578272ad5510a16164

We estimated 2011–2015 Alaska mortality from modifiable behavioural risk factors using relative risks, hazard ratios, and population attributable fraction estimates from a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed literature; prevalence estimates from government reports; as well as data from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation for 2011–2015. To identify the number of deaths attributable to specified risk factors, we used mortality data from the Alaska Division of Public Health, Health Analytics & Vital Records Section. Data included actual reported deaths of Alaska residents for 2011–2015 that matched relevant underlying International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision codes. The actual causes of death in Alaska in 2011–2015 were estimated to be overweight/physical inactivity (20% of all deaths, 26% of Alaska Native deaths), smoking (18%/18%), alcohol consumption (9%/13%), firearms (4%/4%), and drug use (3%/3%). Other actual causes of death included microbial agents (3%/4%), motor vehicles (2%/2%), and environmental pollution (1%/1%). This updated methodology reveals that overweight/physical inactivity was the leading cause of death in Alaska, followed closely by smoking. Just three preventable causes made up almost 60% of all deaths, and almost 70% of deaths among Alaska Native people, both highlighting disparities and underscoring prevention needs.