Why Is This Important?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death of men and women in the United States and in New Jersey. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease and can cause heart attack, angina, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

Definition

Deaths with coronary heart disease as the underlying cause of death. ICD-10 codes: I11 (hypertensive heart disease), I20-I25 (ischemic heart disease)

Data Sources

• Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  (https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
• Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
  (https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/)
• Underlying Cause of Death, CDC WONDER On-line Database, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  (https://wonder.cdc.gov/Deaths-by-Underlying-Cause.html)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

Age-adjusted death rates due to coronary heart disease have been declining for several decades and as of 2019, the Healthy New Jersey 2020 (HNJ2020) targets had been achieved by all groups. An across-the-board increase in coronary heart disease deaths in 2020 put the rates back above the HNJ2020 targets. However, this was likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing delays in medical care and fears of going to the hospital and being exposed to COVID. The age-adjusted coronary heart disease death rate in New Jersey is highest among Blacks, followed in order by Whites, Hispanics, and Asians. The rate among men is 1.8 times the rate among women. County rates range from a low of 73 in Somerset to a high of 174 in Cumberland.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

In 2015, for the first time, New Jersey's age-adjusted death rate due to coronary heart disease was statistically significantly below that of the nation as a whole, and remained so in 2016-2020.

What Is Being Done?

The New Jersey [http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/chronic/heart-disease-stroke/ Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program] (NJHDSPP) produces models for improving the prevention and management of heart disease and stroke in New Jersey. NJHDSPP uses these models to assist New Jersey-based healthcare organizations in meeting nationally-recognized best practices and standards for the prevention and treatment of heart disease and stroke. NJHDSPP administers federal funding to private and public sector recipients to affect policy and systems level change and seeks partnerships to perform facility and process assessments.

Evidence-based Practices

Living a healthy lifestyle keeps blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels normal and lowers the risk for heart disease and heart attack. More information: [https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/prevention/]

More Resources

NJDOH Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program: [http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/chronic/heart-disease-stroke/] CDC Heart Disease Info: [https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/index.html]