Press Release New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Communications
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Sandra Mullin/Andrew Tucker Business Hours (212) 788-5290 After Business Hours (212) 764-7667 Wednesday, December 22, 2004

NEW YORK CITY - December 22, 2004 - The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) today announced that diabetes caused 1,891 deaths last year - an eleven percent increase from 1,704 deaths in 2002 - making it the fourth overall cause of death in New York City (in 2002, it was sixth). With 1,656 deaths, HIV/AIDS dropped to the seventh leading cause of death. These and other health data were published in the Summary of Vital Statistics for 2003, DOHMH's annual report of birth, death, and other vital data.

The total number of deaths last year was 59,213, another historic low (there were 59,651 deaths in 2002). Last year's death rate remained at 7.4 per 1,000 people, the same as in 2002. The average age at death decreased slightly from 71 in 2002 to 70.9 last year. Early deaths (people younger than 65) increased slightly to 18,149, up from 18,077 in 2002.

DOHMH Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH said, "Too many people die prematurely from preventable causes. Heart disease goes hand-in-hand with diabetes, and accounts for 80% of diabetes-related deaths. This is of utmost concern because diabetes - which can be controlled - has more than doubled over the past ten years, and it remains an under diagnosed condition. Additionally, both diabetes and obesity are national problems that are getting worse rapidly. Regular physical activity and modest weight loss can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by more than half."

Hispanics and blacks are more likely than whites and Asians to have diabetes. Among New Yorkers 18-39 years of age, Hispanics are four times more likely - and blacks are twice as likely - to have diabetes than whites and Asians.

For information on how to prevent or control diabetes, visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/public/dohmhnews2-11.pdf.

Teen Births Decreased 36% and Use of Prenatal Care Increased 21% in the Past Decade

There were 36% fewer births to teenagers in 2003 compared to ten years ago, and the proportion of teen to total live births in New York City has also continued to decrease over the past decade. There were 8,831 live births to teenagers in 2003, accounting for 7.1% of total live births in New York City - the lowest on record in recent history. By comparison, in 1993 more than one in ten live births was to a teenager (see table below). Despite these improvements, there are significant disparities by race and borough of residence, and the proportion of live teen births in the Bronx remains by far the highest in the City, at 12.2%. New York City's teen pregnancy rate is higher than the State and national average.

Additionally, 86% of teenagers with live births used prenatal care in the first six months of pregnancy in 2003, up from 66% in 1993, which reflects a combination of greater access to care and increased education and outreach.

Dr. Frieden said, "As is happening nationally, fewer teens are becoming mothers in New York City. Some are delaying sexual activity, and sexually active teens are seeking out and using contraceptive methods more successfully, including effective birth control methods such as the 'patch' and condoms. Our most recent survey of high school students found that 76% used a condom during their last sexual intercourse. Fewer teen births and greater utilization of prenatal care means fewer unintended pregnancies and better pregnancy outcomes for both mother and baby, which positively impacts infant mortality, one of the most important indicators of the City's health."

There were 124,345 total live births in 2003, an increase of 1% percent from 122,937 live births in 2002. While this is the first increase in live births since 2000, it can be attributed to normal fluctuations seen year to year.

Leading Causes of Death in New York City, 2003

In 2003, the top three leading causes of death remained the same as in 2002: heart disease, cancer and influenza/pneumonia. Among New Yorkers under the age of 65, the leading causes of death remained the same as in 2002, the top three of which were cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Frieden said, "New York City remains the center of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. HIV continues to be the number one cause of death for New Yorkers between the ages of 35-44. Every sexually active New Yorker has a role to play in stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS. The first step is finding out your HIV status: HIV testing is faster and more accessible than ever."

Flu/Pneumonia Deaths in New York City, 2003

Flu/pneumonia remained the third leading cause of death among New Yorkers last year. The vast majority (87%) of the 2,692 flu/pneumonia deaths occurred in New Yorkers over the age of 65. In children, ages 1-14 years, there were 12 flu & pneumonia deaths in 2003, making it the seventh leading cause of death in this age group.

Other Highlights

• Special section on the blackout: August 2003: There were six deaths in New York City associated with the power outage, 3 male and 3 female. Causes of death were accidental carbon monoxide poisoning (3), heart attack (1), excessive heat (1), and mechanical respirator failure (1). There was no significant increase or decrease in births nine months following the blackout.
• Alzheimer's disease is now a leading cause of death for older New Yorkers: In 2003, Alzheimer's disease became the 10th leading cause of death for New Yorkers over the age of 75, making it a top cause of death for the first time.
• There has been a decline in induced abortions overall, and an increase in those performed medically (without surgery): There were 90,820 reported total induced abortions (terminations of pregnancy) in 2003, about 1,000 fewer than in 2002 and 12,000 fewer than 1999. Medical abortion has increased as it has become a more widely available and accepted form of induced termination, with 6,108 (6.7%) performed in 2003 compared with 4,519 (4.9%) in 2002 and 3,296 (3.6%) in 2001.
• Infant mortality increased slightly: As announced in August 2004, the citywide infant mortality rate (IMR) was 6.5 in 2003 compared to 6.0 in 2002, an 8% increase. New York City's IMR remains lower than the national average, which was 7.0 in 2002.

The 2003 Summary is available on-line at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/vs/2003sum.pdf, and printed copies will be available early next month. For more information on New York City Vital Statistics, visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/vs/vs.shtml. For information on how to obtain a birth or death certificate, visit nyc.gov/health or call 311.

More complete information about diabetes, the youth risk behavior survey, and infant mortality in New York City is available online at nyc.gov/health. For information on where to get a free, confidential HIV test, call 311 or visit nyc.gov/health.

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