County Residents Healthier Than Most, State Finds

Orange County residents are healthier than most other Californians, according to state figures released Monday that depict the county death rate as below the statewide average and continuing to decline.

Two of the leading causes of death--cancer and stroke--are claiming lives at a much lower rate here, although the state as a whole is also seeing an improvement, according to the state Department of Health Services report.

And while Orange County ranks in the bottom half of the state’s 58 counties for the death rate of another major killer, coronary heart disease, the ailment is declining here.

Moreover, deaths from accidental injuries are lower in Orange County than in three-fourths of the counties.

Among the few negative findings: Orange County’s death rate from homicides and motor vehicle crashes, and the incidence of AIDS and tuberculosis, are on the upswing.

These were some highlights of comparative mortality and morbidity statistics the state has compiled for 1990 through 1992, ranking counties by their rate of disease or death per 100,000 population while making statistical adjustments for differences in population age.

A similar report for 1989 through 1991 was released by the state health agency a year ago, with the objective of tracking the progress the state is making toward meeting national health goals for the year 2000.

Overall, Orange County’s average annual mortality rate from sickness or disease for 1990 through 1992 was 14,597, or 414.9 deaths per 100,000. That was better than the statewide average of 479.6, and below an average rate of 432.5 for Orange County in 1989 through 1991. The state death rate also declined from 495 per 100,000 in the earlier three-year period.

Mono County had the lowest death rate in the state, with 314 deaths per 100,000. The worst rate was 637 in San Francisco.

Dr. George Rutherford, deputy director of prevention services for the state, attributed California’s overall strong showing partly to “very aggressive anti-smoking campaigns” and laws requiring the use of automobile seat belts, child car seats and motorcycle helmets.

The state report ranked the counties for major causes of death, placing counties with the lowest death rates at the top.

“Orange County was in the top quartile for everything but breast cancer, coronary heart disease and infant mortality,” noted Sheila Dumbauld, research manager for the planning and data analysis section of the state Department of Health Services.

She said she assumed that Orange County “does very well in most indicators probably because it is a wealthy county and people can afford to get health care.”

However, county health officials disputed her interpretation.

“It looks good, but I have no idea what it means,” said Tom Uram, director of the Orange County Health Care Agency. “Like many other counties, we have pockets of poverty, AIDS and homelessness.”

Dr. Hugh Stallworth, Orange County’s new public health officer, said the state report doesn’t put him at ease. “Does it mean we should fold up our tents? I don’t think so,” he said. “We have AIDS and tuberculosis to deal with.”

The report showed there was an annual average of 472 new diagnosed cases of AIDS in 1990 through 1992, a rate of 19.1 per 100,000 population, up from an average of 397 new cases per year from 1989 through 1991, which is a rate of 16.4 per 100,000 population.

Similarly, a yearly average of 316 new TB cases was reported in Orange County from 1990 through 1992, or 12.8 cases per 100,000 population, up from 280 cases in 1989 through 1991, at a rate of 11.6 cases per 100,000 population.

Stallworth said there are other preventable deaths that he wants the county to address, such as the drowning of children in swimming pools that are not properly fenced.

“I don’t see cutting back on our public health programs,” he said. “Just because we are in the top quartile of the state doesn’t give me any peace or make me feel terribly wonderful. . . . Quite frankly it doesn’t change the way we do business.”

O.C.’s Health Report Card

Orange County’s death rate ranks eighth lowest among the state’s 58 counties. Deaths from lung cancer, breast cancer and coronary heart disease also are on the decline, making Orange County one of the healthiest counties in the state. A look at three-year averages and rates per 100,000 for the main causes of death:

MORTALITY (1989-1991 AVERAGES)

O.C. O.C. Statewide deaths rate rate Motor vehicle crash 322 12.8 17.3 Unintentional injury 635 23.8 31.1 Work-related injury 36 1.4 1.9 Homicide 168 6.8 12.3 Suicide 257 9.8 11.7 All cancers N/A N/A N/A Lung cancer 944 33.4 35.4 Breast cancer 334 21.8 22.1 Coronary heart disease 4,177 107.3 116.6 Stroke 1,056 25.6 28.9 Drug-related N/A N/A N/A

MORTALITY (1990-1992 AVERAGES)

O.C. O.C. Statewide deaths rate rate Motor vehicle crash 284 11.2 15.7 Unintentional injury 596 21.8 29.0 Work-related injury 38 1.5 2.1 Homicide 177 7.2 13.1 Suicide 259 9.7 11.3 All cancers 3,557 116.2 123.2 Lung cancer 937 32.0 34.6 Breast cancer 320 20.2 21.1 Coronary heart disease 4,118 100.8 111.0 Stroke 1,062 24.6 27.7 Drug-related 142 5.2 6.8

DISEASE (1989-1991 AVERAGES)

O.C. O.C. Statewide incidences rate rate AIDS 397 16.4 25.2 Measles 478 19.7 19.6 Tuberculosis 280 11.6 16.0 Syphilis 96 4.0 13.7

DISEASE (1990-1992 AVERAGES)

O.C. O.C. Statewide incidences rate rate AIDS 472 19.1 33.3 Measles 344 13.9 16.0 Tuberculosis 316 12.8 16.9 Syphilis 77 3.1 9.5

N/A: Not available

Source: State Department of Health Services