Do Premature Death Rates Vary by Race/Ethnicity?

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Read Next in Sonoma County Summary Measures of Health 2015-2017:
Do Premature Death Rates Vary by Geography?

In 2015-2017, premature death rates varied significantly by race/ethnicity (Figure 8). American Indian/Alaska Native residents of the county had the highest premature death rate of all race/ethnicities, more than three times that of Asian/Pacific Islander residents with the lowest premature death rate (6396.0 YLPP-75 per 100,000 compared to 2111.1 YPLL-75 per 100,000, respectively).  White, non-Hispanic residents had the second highest premature death rate (4711.9 YLPP-75 per 100,000), significantly higher than the premature death rates for African American/Black (4022.5 YPLL-75 per 100,000), Hispanic/Latino (3554.8 YLPP-75 per 100,000), and Asian/Pacific Islander residents.

Figure 8. Age-adjusted premature death (YPLL-75) rates by race/ethnicity, three-year average, Sonoma County 2015-2017

Source: California Department of Public Health, California Integrated Vital Records System, 2015-2017; Accessed 4/8/2019.

View Figure 8 data in table format

Death rates for the leading causes of premature death varied by race/ethnicity. In 2015-2017, the premature death rate due to cancer was significantly higher for American Indian/Alaska Native residents than other racial/ethnic groups (Figure 9).  Premature death rates due to cancer were significantly higher for white, non-Hispanics than Hispanic/Latinos, African American/Blacks, and Asian/Pacific Islanders in the county. White, non-Hispanic residents also had significantly higher premature death rates than other racial/ethnic groups due to unintentional injury and suicide. African American/Black residents has significantly higher premature death rates due to heart disease and diabetes than other racial/ethnic groups.

Figure 9. Age-adjusted premature death (YPLL-75) rates by race/ethnicity and cause, three-year average, Sonoma County 2015-2017

Source: California Department of Public Health, California Integrated Vital Records System, 2015-2017; Accessed 4/8/2019.

View Figure 9 data in table format