Definition

Deaths among those aged 45 through 64 years

Numerator

Number of deaths among persons aged 45-64 years

Denominator

Number of persons aged 45-64 years in the population

Why Is This Important?

The deaths of middle-age adults present a public health concern and an opportunity for prevention. The leading causes of death among persons aged 45-64 years are cancer and heart disease. Changes in lifestyle such as increasing physical activity, eating a good diet, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, wearing sunscreen, and getting scheduled tests like mammograms and Pap smears could reduce the risk of getting cancer or heart disease or catch it in an early, more treatable stage.

How Are We Doing?

The death rate among those aged 45-64 years had been slowly declining but the recent increase in unintentional poisoning deaths has resulted in an increase in the death rate among persons of this age group. In 2019, nearly three-quarters of unintentional injury deaths in this age group were due to drug poisoning. Although the death rate among Blacks aged 45-64 years remains significantly higher than that of other racial/ethnic groups, the gap is narrowing. In 2019, the leading causes of death among adults aged 45-64 years were cancer, heart disease, unintentional injury, diabetes, and chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

The death rate among New Jersey residents aged 45-64 years is significantly lower than the national rate, which has remained essentially unchanged over the last two decades.

Health Program Information

NJDOH Cancer Initiatives: [http://nj.gov/health/ces/] NJDOH Chronic Disease Prevention & Control Services: [http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/chronic/] NJDHS Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services: [https://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmhas/home/]