As in previous years, Massachusetts mortality continues to compare favorably with the U.S. and there are continued declines in many of the leading causes of death. Most death rates in Massachusetts were lower than those of the United States including those for heart disease, stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease, unintentional injuries, homicide, suicide, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic liver disease, HIV/AIDS, infant mortality, and diabetes. Looking at the greatest differences in age-adjusted rates per 100,000 people, some examples include the homicide rate in Massachusetts (2.3) was 57% lower than the U.S. homicide rate (5.2), and the Massachusetts rate for suicides (8.5) was 33% below the U.S. rate (12.6). The rate of all firearm-related deaths in Massachusetts was one-third the rate of firearm-related deaths in the United States (3.2 deaths per 100,000 compared with 10.4 per 100,000).
The top 10 causes of death are shown in the table below, with comparisons to the years 2000, 2009, and 2012. As in recent years, cancer and heart disease are the leading causes of death in Massachusetts, accounting for almost half of all deaths[1]. The number and rate of 7 of the 10 leading causes of death were statistically significantly lower than in 2000. Notable decreases since 2000 include a 34% decrease in the death rate for heart disease and a 46% decrease in the death rate for stroke. Also notable is the 62% drop in deaths since 2000 where HIV/AIDS is listed as the underlying cause of death. In contrast, the death rate for injuries of all causes (including opioids and falls) increased by 30% since 2000. All opioid related deaths have increased by 162% since 2000 and by 33% since 2012. In 2013, the ranking for the 10 leading causes of death remained unchanged from 2012 except for diabetes and Ill-defined conditions, which switched places. The death rate for cancer decreased by 4.4% from 2012, driven largely by a 9.0% decline in age-adjusted lung cancer mortality. Compared to 2012, the 2013 death rate for all injuries increased by 9.4%, driven largely by an increase in poisoning and opioid deaths.
Of the 54,609 deaths in 2013, 20,277 (37%) occurred in hospitals, 15,652 (29%) occurred in nursing homes, 15,117 (28%) occurred at home, and 617 (1%) were pronounced dead on arrival at emergency departments[2]. In 2013, the percentage of deaths which occurred at home increased by 3.9% from 2012, and has been increasing by 3.6% per year since 2008.
Several factors may account for the generally favorable numbers in Massachusetts, including high quality health care, higher than average socioeconomics, and high education levels relative to other states. Nonetheless, disparities persist with higher death rates for certain causes of death for some racial groups, for the poor, for those with lower levels of education, and for those who live in certain geographical areas. These disparities have remained relatively constant in recent years. For detailed information on these disparities, please refer to the separate Data Supplement (Massachusetts Deaths 2013: Data Supplement).
Our special focus for the 2013 Death report is on infant mortality in Massachusetts: how it has changed over time among population groups and within communities in the state.
Leading Causes of Death1, Massachusetts: 2000, 2009, 2012, 2013
| 2000 | 2009 | 2012 | 2013 |
Cause | Rank | Number of Deaths | Age Adjusted rate per 100,000 | Rank | Number of Deaths | Age Adjusted rate per 100,000 | Rank | Number of Deaths | Age Adjusted rate per 100,000 | Rank | Number of Deaths | Age Adjusted rate per 100,000 |
Cancer | 2 | 14,006 | 206.9 | 1 | 13,042 | 174.0 | 1 | 12,850 | 166.7 | 1 | 12,851 | 142.2 |
Heart Disease | 1 | 15,313 | 218.0 | 2 | 12,233 | 155.0 | 2 | 11,586 | 141.3 | 2 | 12,077 | 159.5 |
All Injuries combined | 5 | 2,386 | 35.9 | 3 | 2,920 | 41.4 | 3 | 3,053 | 42.6 | 3 | 3,378 | 46.7 |
 Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease
| 4 | 2,911 | 41.9 | 5 | 2,546 | 33.6 | 4 | 2,520 | 32.3 | 4 | 2,575 | 31.8 |
Stroke | 3 | 3,645 | 51.2 | 4 | 2,552 | 32.2 | 5 | 2,360 | 28.7 | 5 | 2,355 | 27.7 |
Alzheimer’s Disease | 7 | 1,427 | 19.7 | 6 | 1,690 | 20.6 | 6 | 1,711 | 20.1 | 6 | 1,698 | 19.4 |
Influenza & Pneumonia | 6 | 2,110 | 29.3 | 7 | 1,335 | 16.8 | 7 | 1,356 | 16.3 | 7 | 1,551 | 18.0 |
Nephritis | 9 | 1,230 | 17.6 | 8 | 1,267 | 16.1 | 8 | 1,267 | 15.7 | 8 | 1,263 | 15.2 |
Diabetes | 13 | 490 | 7.1 | 11 | 617 | 8.2 | 10 | 1,098 | 13.9 | 9 | 1,149 | 14.2 |
Ill-defined conditions-signs and symptoms | 8 | 1,353 | 19.7 | 9 | 995 | 13.1 | 9 | 1,1202 | 14.3 | 10 | 958 | 11.8 |
1. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) publishes a list of 113 selected causes of death from which we select 57 causes and order them by their number of deaths. 2. This category is often dependent on receiving additional information from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). With the sharp increase in opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts, the OCME made an effort to complete work on as many of these cases as possible. As a result, it is possible that the 2013 death file has a higher proportion of such cases than previous years and could account for some of the recent increase. 
|
Leading Causes of Death1 by County, Massachusetts: 2013 |
Rank | County |
Barnstable | Berkshire | Bristol | Dukes | Essex | Franklin | Hampden | Hampshire | Middlesex | Nantucket | Norfolk | Plymouth | Suffolk | Worcester |
1 | Heart Disease (699) | Heart Disease (369) | Cancer (1,159) | Heart Disease (35) | Heart Disease (1,452) | Cancer (163) | Cancer (1,008) | Cancer (299) | Cancer (2,689) | Cancer (15) | Cancer (1,373) | Cancer (1,042) | Cancer (1,138) | Cancer (1,522) |
2 | Cancer (674) | Cancer (322) | Heart Disease (1,126) | Cancer (32) | Cancer (1,415) | Heart Disease (158) | Heart Disease (1,008) | Heart Disease (280) | Heart Disease (2,308) | Heart Disease (7) | Heart Disease (1,276) | Heart Disease (1,003) | Heart Disease (900) | Heart Disease (1,456) |
 3
| CLRD2 (158) | CLRD2 (79) | CLRD2 (270) | Influenza & Pneumonia (10) | Unintentional Injuries (300) | CLRD2 (50) | Unintentional Injuries (211) | Unintentional Injuries (68) | CLRD2 (477) | Atherosclerosis (4) | CLRD2 (253) | CLRD2 (213) | Unintentional Injuries (243) | Stroke (364) |
4 | Stroke (151) | Unintentional Injuries (77) | Unintentional Injuries (237) | Stroke (7) | CLRD2 (275) | Stroke (37) | CLRD2 (193) | Stroke (61) | Stroke (471) | CLRD2 (3) | Unintentional Injuries (233) | Unintentional Injuries (209) | CLRD2 (200) | CLRD2 (340) |
5 | Alzheimer’s Disease (149) | Alzheimer’s Disease (73) | Stroke (189) | CLRD2 (6) | Stroke (262) | Unintentional Injuries (28) | Stroke (170) | CLRD2 (58) | Unintentional Injuries (454) | Stroke (3) | Stroke (216) | Stroke (181) | Stroke (178) | Unintentional Injuries (317) |
6 | Unintentional Injuries (100) | Stroke (65) | Alzheimer’s Disease (168) | Unintentional Injuries (6) | Influenza & Pneumonia (166) | Influenza & Pneumonia (20) | Influenza & Pneumonia (121) | Influenza & Pneumonia (38) | Alzheimer’s Disease (356) | Influenza & Pneumonia (2) | Alzheimer’s Disease (178) | Alzheimer’s Disease (174) | Diabetes (130) | Alzheimer's Disease (212) |
7 | Influenza & Pneumonia (75) | Influenza & Pneumonia (34) | Influenza & Pneumonia (163) | Nephritis (5) | Alzheimer’s Disease (154) | Alzheimer’s Disease (16) | Nephritis (121) | Alzheimer’s Disease (31) | Influenza & Pneumonia (299) | Unintentional Injuries (2) | Influenza & Pneumonia (145) | Influenza & Pneumonia (144) | Alzheimer’s Disease (127) | Influenza & Pneumonia (210) |
8 | Diabetes (62) | Nephritis (28) | Nephritis (143) | Alzheimer’s Disease (4) | Nephritis (143) | Diabetes (12) | Diabetes (83) | Diabetes (27) | Nephritis (269) | Hypertension (2) | Nephritis (131) | Nephritis (101) | Influenza & Pneumonia (124) | Diabetes (142) |
 9
| Nephritis (46) | Diabetes (23) | Diabetes (116) | Septicemia (4) | ill-defined conditions-signs and symptoms (123) | Septicemia (10) | ill-defined conditions-signs and symptoms (76) | Nephritis (25) | ill-defined conditions-signs and symptoms (251) | Alzheimer’s Disease (1) | Diabetes (114) | Diabetes (93) | Nephritis (113) | Nephritis (129) |
10 | Parkinson’s Disease (43) | Suicide (21) | ill-defined conditions-signs and symptoms (113) | ill-defined conditions-signs and symptoms (4) | Diabetes (115) | Suicide (10) | Septicemia (65) | Septicemia (24) | Diabetes (230) | Diabetes (1) | Parkinson’s Disease (82) | Septicemia (64) | ill-defined conditions-signs and symptoms (101) | ill-defined conditions-signs and symptoms (114) |
1. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) publishes a list of 113 selected causes of death from which we select 57 causes and order them by their number of deaths. 2. The title of this cause of death has changed between ICD-10 and ICD-9. Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease (ICD-10 title) corresponds to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (ICD-9 title). |
Infant Mortality
The infant mortality rate (IMR), defined as the number of deaths in children under 1 year of age per 1000 live births, is considered a good measure of population health for comparing the health status of a population over time, or between populations at a single point in time[3].
In 2013, there were 298 infant deaths and 71,618[4] live births among Massachusetts residents, which correspond to an infant mortality rate (IMR) of 4.2 deaths per 1,000 live births. The 2013 IMR was similar to the 2012 rate (4.3 deaths per 1,000 live births), and it has decreased by 40% since 1990, from 7.0 deaths per 1,000 live births.
In 2013, non-Hispanic Black infants continued to have the highest IMR among all race and ethnicity groups at 8.9 deaths per 1,000 live births. There were no statistically significant changes from the previous year.
Figure 1. Infant Mortality Rates by Race/Hispanic Ethnicity, Massachusetts: 2013
In 2013, 74% of infant deaths occur in the first month of life. The leading causes of infant death were conditions arising in the perinatal period (59% of all infant deaths) followed by congenital malformations (18% of all infant deaths). The leading causes of death in the neonatal period were disorders relating to short gestation and low birthweight, while Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) was the leading cause of death in the post neonatal period (28-364 days).
 Table 1. Trends in Infant, Neonatal, and Post Neonatal Mortality by Race/Hispanic Ethnicity, Massachusetts: 1995-2013
| |
INFANT MORTALITY (less than one year of age) | |
| State Total1 | | White non-Hispanic | | Black non-Hispanic | | Hispanic | | Asian | | Other2 | |
Year | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 | |
1995 | 419 | 5.1 | | 275 | 4.4 | | 65 | 11.1 | | 58 | 7.2 | | 19 | 5.5 | | 2 | --4 | |
1996 | 403 | 5.0 | | 289 | 4.7 | | 63 | 11.4 | | 40 | 5.1 | | 8 | 2.2 | | 2 | --4 | |
1997 | 425 | 5.3 | | 294 | 4.8 | | 64 | 11.7 | | 55 | 6.7 | | 10 | 2.6 | | 2 | --4 | |
1998 | 414 | 5.1 | | 287 | 4.6 | | 59 | 10.6 | | 58 | 6.7 | | 10 | 2.7 | | 0 | 0.0 | |
1999 | 418 | 5.2 | | 285 | 4.7 | | 72 | 12.3 | | 49 | 5.5 | | 8 | 1.9 | | 4 | --4 | |
2000 | 377 | 4.6 | | 232 | 3.8 | | 74 | 12.8 | | 48 | 5.2 | | 19 | 4.1 | | 4 | --4 | |
2001 | 407 | 5.0 | | 245 | 4.1 | | 71 | 12.1 | | 69 | 7.3 | | 15 | 3.1 | | 7 | 4.1 | |
2002 | 397 | 4.9 | | 239 | 4.1 | | 69 | 11.6 | | 67 | 7.0 | | 16 | 3.0 | | 6 | 3.8 | |
2003 | 383 | 4.8 | | 235 | 4.1 | | 75 | 12.7 | | 55 | 5.6 | | 14 | 2.7 | | 4 | --4 | |
2004 | 376 | 4.8 | | 210 | 3.8 | | 70 | 11.5 | | 75 | 7.6 | | 15 | 2.7 | | 6 | 3.5 | |
2005 | 391 | 5.1 | | 230 | 4.3 | | 57 | 9.4 | | 78 | 7.7 | | 18 | 3.4 | | 8 | 4.3 | |
2006 | 369 | 4.8 | | 221 | 4.2 | | 72 | 11.1 | | 62 | 5.8 | | 10 | 1.8 | | 3 | --4 | |
2007 | 380 | 4.9 | | 206 | 3.9 | | 66 | 10.2 | | 81 | 7.4 | | 18 | 3.1 | | 4 | --4 | |
2008 | 382 | 5.0 | | 194 | 3.7 | | 78 | 11.7 | | 86 | 7.9 | | 16 | 2.7 | | 8 | 5.1 | |
2009 | 366 | 4.9 | | 205 | 4.1 | | 54 | 7.8 | | 78 | 7.1 | | 20 | 3.4 | | 9 | 7.8 | |
2010 | 319 | 4.4 | | 163 | 3.4 | | 56 | 8.2 | | 65 | 6.1 | | 25 | 4.3 | | 7 | 6.5 | |
2011 | 310 | 4.2 | | 159 | 3.4 | | 47 | 6.7 | | 75 | 5.8 | | 22 | 3.6 | | 6 | 2.1 | |
2012 | 309 | 4.3 | | 158 | 3.5 | | 57 | 8.2 | | 71 | 5.4 | | 17 | 2.6 | | 4 | --4 | |
2013 | 298 | 4.2 | | 161 | 3.6 | | 63 | 8.9 | | 49 | 3.9 | | 15 | 2.4 | | 3 | --4 | |
NEONATAL MORTALITY (birth to 27 days) | |
| State Total1 | | White non-Hispanic | | Black non-Hispanic | | Hispanic | | Asian | | Other2 |
Year | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 |
1995 | 298 | 3.6 | | 198 | 3.1 | | 50 | 8.5 | | 39 | 4.8 | | 10 | 2.9 | | 1 | --4 |
1996 | 290 | 3.6 | | 222 | 3.6 | | 34 | 6.2 | | 27 | 3.5 | | 5 | 1.4 | | 1 | --4 |
1997 | 323 | 4.0 | | 228 | 3.7 | | 44 | 8.0 | | 43 | 5.2 | | 7 | 1.8 | | 1 | --4 |
1998 | 315 | 3.9 | | 218 | 3.5 | | 47 | 8.5 | | 43 | 5.0 | | 7 | 1.9 | | 0 | 0.0 |
1999 | 332 | 4.1 | | 226 | 3.7 | | 58 | 9.9 | | 39 | 4.4 | | 5 | 1.2 | | 4 | --4 |
2000 | 288 | 3.5 | | 177 | 2.9 | | 57 | 9.9 | | 37 | 4.0 | | 14 | 3.0 | | 3 | --4 |
2001 | 308 | 3.8 | | 190 | 3.2 | | 56 | 9.5 | | 49 | 5.2 | | 10 | 2.1 | | 3 | --4 |
2002 | 299 | 3.7 | | 185 | 3.2 | | 49 | 8.2 | | 50 | 5.2 | | 13 | 2.4 | | 2 | --4 |
2003 | 285 | 3.6 | | 179 | 3.1 | | 56 | 9.5 | | 38 | 3.9 | | 10 | 1.9 | | 2 | --4 |
2004 | 291 | 3.7 | | 167 | 3.0 | | 51 | 8.4 | | 57 | 5.8 | | 12 | 2.2 | | 4 | --4 |
2005 | 282 | 3.7 | | 168 | 3.1 | | 40 | 6.6 | | 57 | 5.8 | | 11 | 2.1 | | 5 | 2.7 |
2006 | 279 | 3.6 | | 173 | 3.3 | | 53 | 8.2 | | 42 | 3.9 | | 7 | 1.3 | | 3 | --4 |
2007 | 263 | 3.4 | | 141 | 2.7 | | 48 | 7.4 | | 53 | 4.9 | | 15 | 2.6 | | 4 | --4 |
2008 | 291 | 3.8 | | 153 | 3.0 | | 57 | 8.6 | | 65 | 6.0 | | 10 | 1.7 | | 6 | 3.8 |
2009 | 276 | 3.7 | | 162 | 3.2 | | 36 | 5.2 | | 54 | 4.9 | | 17 | 2.9 | | 7 | 6.0 |
2010 | 238 | 3.3 | | 121 | 2.5 | | 43 | 6.3 | | 47 | 4.4 | | 20 | 3.4 | | 5 | 4.6 |
2011 | 230 | 3.1 | | 112 | 2.4 | | 33 | 4.7 | | 60 | 4.7 | | 19 | 3.1 | | 5 | 1.7 |
2012 | 216 | 3.0 | | 111 | 2.5 | | 41 | 5.9 | | 46 | 3.5 | | 13 | 2.0 | | 3 | --4 |
2013 | 221 | 3.1 | | 119 | 2.6 | | 45 | 6.3 | | 39 | 3.1 | | 10 | 1.6 | | 2 | --4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 Table 1 (cont’d). Trends in Infant, Neonatal, and Post Neonatal Mortality by Race/Hispanic Ethnicity, Massachusetts: 1995-2013
| |
POST NEONATAL MORTALITY (28-364 days) | |
| State Total1 | | White non-Hispanic | | Black non-Hispanic | | Hispanic | | Asian | | Other2 |
Year | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 | | n | Rate3 |
1995 | 121 | 1.5 | | 77 | 1.2 | | 15 | 2.6 | | 19 | 2.3 | | 9 | 2.6 | | 1 | --4 |
1996 | 113 | 1.4 | | 67 | 1.1 | | 29 | 5.3 | | 13 | 1.7 | | 3 | --4 | | 1 | --4 |
1997 | 102 | 1.3 | | 66 | 1.1 | | 20 | 3.7 | | 12 | 1.5 | | 3 | --4 | | 1 | --4 |
1998 | 99 | 1.2 | | 69 | 1.1 | | 12 | 2.2 | | 15 | 1.7 | | 3 | --4 | | 0 | 0.0 |
1999 | 86 | 1.1 | | 59 | 1.0 | | 14 | 2.4 | | 10 | 1.1 | | 3 | --4 | | 0 | 0.0 |
2000 | 89 | 1.1 | | 55 | 0.9 | | 17 | 2.9 | | 11 | 1.2 | | 5 | 1.1 | | 1 | --4 |
2001 | 99 | 1.2 | | 55 | 0.9 | | 15 | 2.6 | | 20 | 2.1 | | 5 | 1.0 | | 4 | --4 |
2002 | 98 | 1.2 | | 54 | 0.9 | | 20 | 3.4 | | 17 | 1.8 | | 3 | --4 | | 4 | --4 |
2003 | 98 | 1.2 | | 56 | 1.0 | | 19 | 3.2 | | 17 | 1.7 | | 4 | --4 | | 2 | --4 |
2004 | 85 | 1.1 | | 43 | 0.8 | | 19 | 3.1 | | 18 | 1.8 | | 3 | --4 | | 2 | --4 |
2005 | 109 | 1.4 | | 62 | 1.2 | | 17 | 2.8 | | 20 | 2.0 | | 7 | 1.3 | | 3 | --4 |
2006 | 90 | 1.2 | | 48 | 0.9 | | 19 | 2.9 | | 20 | 1.9 | | 3 | --4 | | 0 | 0.0 |
2007 | 117 | 1.5 | | 65 | 1.2 | | 18 | 2.8 | | 28 | 2.6 | | 3 | --4 | | 3 | --4 |
2008 | 91 | 1.2 | | 41 | 0.8 | | 21 | 3.2 | | 21 | 1.9 | | 6 | 1.0 | | 2 | --4 |
2009 | 90 | 1.2 | | 43 | 0.9 | | 18 | 2.6 | | 24 | 2.2 | | 3 | --4 | | 2 | --4 |
2010 | 81 | 1.1 | | 42 | 0.9 | | 13 | 1.9 | | 18 | 1.7 | | 5 | 0.9 | | 2 | --4 |
2011 | 80 | 1.1 | | 47 | 1.0 | | 14 | 2.0 | | 15 | 1.2 | | 3 | --4 | | 1 | --4 |
2012 | 93 | 1.3 | | 47 | 1.0 | | 16 | 2.3 | | 25 | 1.9 | | 4 | --4 | | 1 | --4 |
2013 | 77 | 1.1 | | 42 | 0.9 | | 18 | 2.5 | | 10 | 0.8 | | 5 | 0.8 | | 1 | --4 |
1. Deaths of infants of unknown race are included in the total calculation. For rate computations, births of infants of unknown race are allocated into the race categories according to the distribution of births of known race. 2. Other: American Indian and Other races. 3. Rates are expressed per 1,000 live births. 4. Calculations based on values of 1-4 are excluded. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Table 2. Infant Mortality Rates, 30 Largest Municipalities, Massachusetts: 2013
| Infant Mortality | Neonatal Mortality |
| 2013 | 2011-2013 | 2013 | 2011-2013 |
Municipality1 | N | Rate2 | N | Rate2 | N | Rate2 | N | Rate2 |
STATE TOTAL | 298 | 4.2 | 917 | 4.2 | 221 | 3.0 | 667 | 3.1 | |
Arlington | --3 | --3 | --3 | --3 | --3 | --3 | --3 | --3 | |
Attleboro | --3 | --3 | 5 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | --3 | --3 | |
Barnstable | --3 | --3 | 5 | 4.1 | --3 | --3 | --3 | --3 | |
Boston | 39 | 4.7 | 120 | 4.6 | 30 | 2.9 | 87 | 3.5 | |
Brockton | 9 | 5.2 | 26 | 6.4 | 8 | 3.7 | 21 | 4.7 | |
Brookline | 0 | 0 | --3 | --3 | 0 | 0 | --3 | --3 | |
Cambridge | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3.2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2.6 | |
Chicopee | --3 | --3 | 9 | 3.7 | --3 | --3 | 6 | 2.1 | |
Fall River | 5 | 5.5 | 13 | 4.1 | --3 | --3 | 11 | 4.1 | |
Framingham | --3 | --3 | 8 | 3.6 | --3 | --3 | 5 | 2.5 | |
Haverhill | 5 | 2.5 | 10 | 3.7 | --3 | --3 | 8 | 2.5 | |
Lawrence | --3 | --3 | 18 | 5.6 | --3 | --3 | 14 | 4.1 | |
Lowell | 6 | 3.6 | 18 | 5.4 | --3 | --3 | 13 | 4.2 | |
Lynn | 5 | 7.3 | 29 | 6.9 | --3 | --3 | 20 | 4.5 | |
Malden | --3 | --3 | 6 | 2.3 | --3 | --3 | --3 | --3 | |
Medford | --3 | --3 | 5 | 2.4 | --3 | --3 | --3 | --3 | |
Methuen | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4.1 | 0 | 0 | --3 | --3 | |
New Bedford | 13 | 3.8 | 27 | 4.1 | 8 | 3.8 | 19 | 3.3 | |
Newton | --3 | --3 | 9 | 4.2 | --3 | --3 | 7 | 3.4 | |
Peabody | --3 | --3 | 6 | 3.2 | --3 | --3 | 6 | 3.2 | |
Pittsfield | 7 | 5.7 | 14 | 8.3 | --3 | --3 | 9 | 5.7 | |
Plymouth | --3 | --3 | 6 | 1.8 | --3 | --3 | --3 | --3 | |
Quincy | --3 | --3 | 10 | 3.2 | --3 | --3 | 5 | 2.1 | |
Revere | --3 | --3 | 14 | 6.2 | --3 | --3 | 12 | 5.3 | |
Somerville | --3 | --3 | 9 | 2.4 | --3 | --3 | 7 | 1.7 | |
Springfield | 16 | 3.8 | 44 | 7.0 | 12 | 2.1 | 29 | 3.7 | |
Taunton | --3 | --3 | 10 | 3.9 | --3 | --3 | 10 | 3.9 | |
Waltham | --3 | --3 | 8 | 2.4 | --3 | --3 | 7 | 2.0 | |
Weymouth | 7 | 4.9 | 16 | 5.8 | 6 | 3.2 | 11 | 3.2 | |
Worcester | 9 | 7.5 | 43 | 6.4 | 5 | 4.7 | 29 | 4.9 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 Table 3. Infant, Neonatal, and Post Neonatal Deaths by Cause, Massachusetts: 2013
|
| | | | |
| | Infant (<1 year) | Neonatal (<28 days) | Post Neonatal (28-365 days) |
Cause of Death | ICD-10 Code | # | % | # | % | # | % |
TOTAL | | 298 | 100.0 | 221 | 100.0 | 77 | 100.0 |
Infectious and parasitic diseases | A00-B99 | 3 | --1 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | --1 |
Cancer | C00-C97 | 3 | --1 | 1 | --1 | 2 | --1 |
Diseases of the blood and blood forming organs (anemia) | D50-D89 | 2 | --1 | 1 | --1 | 1 | --1 |
Diseases of nervous system and ear | G00-G98, H60-H93 | 3 | --1 | 1 | --1 | 2 | --1 |
Diseases of the respiratory system | J00-J98 | 2 | --1 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | --1 |
Diseases of digestive system | K00-K92 | 4 | --1 | 2 | --1 | 2 | --1 |
Congenital malformations | Q00-Q99 | 54 | 18.1 | 38 | 17.2 | 16 | 20.8 |
Congenital malformations of nervous system | Q00-Q07 | 4 | --1 | 3 | --1 | 1 | --1 |
Anencephalus and similar malformations | Q00 | 1 | --1 | 1 | --1 | 0 | 0.0 |
Congenital malformations of heart | Q20-Q24 | 14 | 4.7 | 8 | 3.6 | 6 | 7.8 |
Congenital malformations of respiratory system | Q30-Q34 | 4 | --1 | 4 | --1 | 0 | 0.0 |
 Congenital malformations of genitourinary system
| Q50-Q64 | 3 | --1 | 2 | --1 | 1 | --1 |
Congenital malformations of musculoskeletal system | Q65-Q85 | 6 | 2.0 | 3 | --1 | 3 | --1 |
Chromosomal abnormalities | Q90-Q99 | 10 | 3.4 | 8 | 3.6 | 2 | --1 |
Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period | P00-P96 | 177 | 59.4 | 170 | 76.9 | 7 | 9.1 |
Newborn affected by maternal conditions which may be unrelated to present pregnancy | P00 | 1 | --1 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | --1 |
Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy | P01 | 31 | 10.4 | 31 | 14.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Newborn affected by complications of placenta, cord and membrane | P02 | 9 | 3.0 | 9 | 4.1 | 0 | 0.0 |
Newborn affected by other complications of labor and delivery | P03 | 2 | --1 | 1 | --1 | 1 | --1 |
Disorders relating to short gestation and low birthweight | P07 | 77 | 25.8 | 77 | 34.8 | 0 | 0.0 |
Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia | P20-P21 | 4 | --1 | 4 | --1 | 0 | 0.0 |
Respiratory distress of newborn | P22 | 7 | 2.3 | 7 | 3.2 | 0 | 0.0 |
Other respiratory conditions of newborn | P23-P28 | 11 | 3.7 | 9 | 4.1 | 2 | --1 |
Infections specific to the perinatal period | P35-P39 | 5 | 1.7 | 3 | --1 | 2 | --1 |
Neonatal hemorrhage | P50-P52, P54 | 6 | 2.0 | 6 | 2.7 | 0 | 0.0 |
Other and ill-defined conditions originating in the perinatal period | P90-P96 | 4 | --1 | 4 | --1 | 0 | 0.0 |
Symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions | R00-R99 | 35 | 11.7 | 5 | 2.3 | 30 | 39.0 |
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) | R95 | 15 | 5.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 15 | 19.5 |
Unintentional Injuries | V01-X59 | 2 | --1 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | --1 |
Homicide | X85-Y09 | 6 | 2.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 6 | 7.8 |
All other causes | Residual | 7 | 2.3 | 3 | --1 | 4 | --1 |
1. Calculations based on values 1-4 are excluded. |
|
|   Table 4. 95% Confidence Intervals for Infant Mortality Rates by Race and Hispanic Ethnicity, Massachusetts: 2000-2013
| |
| | Total1 | White non-Hispanic | Black non-Hispanic | Hispanic | Asian | |
Year | n | Rate2 (95% CI) | n | Rate2 (95% CI) | n | Rate2 (95% CI) | n | Rate2 (95% CI) | n | Rate2 (95% CI) | | |
| | 2000 | 377 | 4.6 (4.1, 5.1) | 232 | 3.8 (3.3, 4.3) | 74 | 12.8 (6.8, 20.7) | 48 | 5.2 (1.7, 10.5) | 19 | 4.1 (1.1, 8.9) |
| | 2001 | 407 | 5.0 (4.5, 5.5) | 245 | 4.1 (3.6, 4.6) | 71 | 12.1 (6.3, 19.8) | 69 | 7.3 (3.0, 13.5) | 15 | 3.1 (0.7, 7.4) |
| | 2002 | 397 | 4.9 (4.4, 5.4) | 239 | 4.1 (3.6, 4.6) | 69 | 11.6 (5.9, 19.2) | 67 | 7.0 (2.8, 13.1) | 16 | 3.0 (0.6, 7.2) |
| | 2003 | 383 | 4.8 (4.3, 5.3) | 235 | 4.1 (3.6, 4.6) | 75 | 12.7 (6.7, 20.6) | 55 | 5.6 (2.0, 11.1) | 14 | 2.7 (0.5, 6.7) |
| | 2004 | 376 | 4.7 (4.2, 5.2) | 210 | 3.8 (3.3, 4.3) | 70 | 11.5 (5.8, 19.0) | 75 | 7.6 (3.2, 13.9) | 15 | 2.7 (0.5, 6.7) |
| |  2005
| 391 | 5.1 (4.6, 5.6) | 230 | 4.3 (3.7, 4.9) | 57 | 9.4 (4.4, 16.3) | 78 | 7.8 (3.3, 14.2) | 18 | 3.4 (0.8, 7.9) |
| | 2006 | 369 | 4.8 (4.3, 5.3) | 221 | 4.2 (3.7, 4.8) | 72 | 11.1 (5.6, 18.5) | 62 | 5.8 (2.1, 11.4) | 10 | 1.8 (0.2, 5.2) |
| | 2007 | 380 | 4.9 (4.4, 5.4) | 206 | 3.9 (3.4, 4.4) | 66 | 10.2 (4.9, 17.4) | 81 | 7.4 (3.1, 13.6) | 18 | 3.1 (0.7, 7.4) |
| | 2008 | 382 | 5.0 (4.5, 5.5) | 194 | 3.7 (3.2, 4.2) | 78 | 11.7 (6.0, 19.3) | 86 | 7.9 (3.4, 14.3) | 16 | 2.7 (0.5, 6.7) |
| | 2009 | 366 | 4.9 (4.4, 5.4) | 205 | 5.0 (4.5, 5.5) | 54 | 11.7 (6.0, 19.3) | 78 | 7.9 (3.4, 14.3) | 20 | 2.7 (0.5, 6.7) |
| | 2010 | 319 | 4.4 (3.9, 4.9) | 163 | 3.4 (2.8, 3.9) | 56 | 8.2 (3.6, 14.7) | 65 | 6.1 (2.3, 11.9) | 25 | 4.3 (1.2, 9.2) |
| | 2011 | 310 | 4.2 (3.8, 4.7) | 159 | 3.4 (2.9, 4.0) | 47 | 6.7 (2.6, 12.6) | 75 | 5.8 (2.1, 11.4) | 22 | 3.6 (0.9, 8.2) |
| | 2012 | 309 | 4.3 (3.8, 4.7) | 158 | 3.5 (3.0, 4.0) | 57 | 8.2 (3.6, 14.8) | 71 | 5.4 (1.9, 10.8) | 17 | 2.6 (0.5, 6.6) |
| | 2013 | 298 | 4.2 (3.7, 4.6) | 161 | 3.6 (3.0, 4.1) | 63 | 8.9 (6.7,11.1) | 49 | 3.9 (2.8, 5.0) | 15 | 2.4 (1.2, 3.6) |
| | 1. Deaths of infants of unknown race are excluded except for the total calculation. For rate computations, births of infants of unknown race are allocated into the race categories according to the distribution of births of known race. 2. Rates are expressed per 1,000 live births. NOTE: This table has been modified from previous reports. For comparisons of more than 100 events, whether they are rates, proportions, or numbers, the binomial distribution is assumed, and confidence intervals are examined to see whether they overlap (Refer to the “Confidence Intervals and Infant Mortality Rates” section in this Appendix for an explanation of using confidence intervals to determine statistical significance.) When the number of events is less than 100, a Poisson distribution is assumed, and confidence intervals are constructed based upon the Poisson distribution. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Data SOURCES AND METHOD Notes
Data on deaths are based on information from the Massachusetts Standard Certificate of Death filed with the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. All data in this publication are resident data unless otherwise stated. Resident data include all events that occur to residents of the Commonwealth, wherever they occur.
The 2013 Birth data are used to calculate infant mortality rates. Please see: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/admin/dmoa/repi/birth-data.html
Acknowledgments
This report was prepared by Malena Hood and Dana Bernson, Epidemiologists of the Office of Data Management and Outcomes Assessment. Special thanks go to: Tom Land, Director, Office of Data Management and Outcomes Assessment; Antonio Sousa, Registrar, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics; and Karin Barrett, Sharon Pagnano, Kevin Foster, and Maria Vu, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.
Data in this report have been collected through the efforts of the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics staff, including: Michael Baker, Donna Barlow, Pamela Corbin, June Deloney, Alex Forman, Marsha Grabau, Annette Luc, Maureen McKean, Denise O'Gara, Monica Smith, and Jennifer Smith.
[1] Both in terms of absolute numbers and also when adjusted for the age of the population.
[2] Please see Table 4 in the 2013 Data Supplement for a complete list of places of death
[3] Murray CJL, Salomon JA, Mathers C. A critical examination of summary measures of population health. Bull World Health Organ, 2000;78:981–94.
[4] In our calculation of IMR by race/ethnicity, we reassigned mothers who selected more than 1 race (multiple races) to the lowest minority racial group (i.e. American Indian and White to American Indian).