California Improves in Several Public Health Measures, Report Finds
California has made improvements in key public health measures, such as rates of chronic health conditions, according to a report from the California Department of Public Health, KPCC's "KPCC News" reports (O'Neill, "KPCC News," KPCC, 4/2).
DPH released the annual report -- titled, "County Health Status Profiles 2013" -- on Tuesday (Kisken, Ventura County Star, 4/2).
Report Findings
The report found a statewide decrease in the rate of most illnesses from 2006 to 2011, including:
- All types of cancer;
- Diabetes;
- Heart disease; and
- Stroke.
According to the report, the number of AIDS and gonorrhea cases also decreased statewide during that time.
In addition, state mortality rates also decreased for:
- Homicides;
- Motor vehicle crashes; and
- Unintentional causes, such as drug overdoses ("KPCC News," KPCC, 4/2).
Increase in Alzheimer's Deaths
However, the report found that more Californians died from Alzheimer's disease during that time period.
Rhonda Spiegel -- executive director of the California Central Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association -- said, "I think as a community and as a state, people need to be more vocal with our representatives in Congress" about the disease. She added, "And our representatives need to tell [NIH] to make Alzheimer's a priority" (Ventura County Star, 4/2). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.