Description of Indicator
This indicator shows the rate of heart disease deaths per 100,000 residents in the three counties and Pennsylvania, adjusted for age.
Why is it important?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among individuals in the United States. People with high blood pressure, diabetes, unhealthy diets and exercise habits, and tobacco exposure are at greater risk of developing heart disease. Tracking data and trends is essential to understand the community’s health status, the pressure on health resources, and the economic impact of an unhealthy population.
How is the region performing?
The rate of death caused by heart disease dropped significantly in Luzerne County (by 23.3 percent) and Wayne County (by 20.6 percent) over the last decade. The heart disease death rates decreased in all three counties and statewide from 2022 to 2023. In Lackawanna County, the heart disease death rate was higher in 2023 compared to the other areas analyzed. All three counties are performing worse than the state as a whole.