Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Heart disease was the leading cause of death for Kosciusko County residents in 1999, according to the Indiana State Department of Health Epidemiology Resource Center.
At the Kosciusko County Board of Health meeting Wednesday, Dr. William Remington presented county death statistics for the board's information.
There were 169 deaths in the county in 1999 from diseases of the heart. The other leading causes of death were malignant neoplasms (156), cerebrovascular diseases (51), accidents (35), chronic lower respiratory diseases (29), diabetes mellitus (23), Alzheimer's disease (20), nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis (15), influenza and pneumonia (11). Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period and in situ neoplasms, benign neoplasms, etc. accounted for seven deaths each.
There were a total of 616 Kosciusko County resident deaths in 1999.
For males in the county in 1999, diseases of the heart was the leading cause of death (90 deaths). However, for women the leading cause of death was malignant neoplasms (83) with diseases of the heart in a close second (79).
Parkinson's disease was one of the leading causes of death in Kosciusko County men, but not in the top ten causes for women.
The statistics also broke the leading causes of death of Kosciusko County residents down by age group.
The leading cause for children under age 1 was disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight (4). There was also one case of a child under age 1 dying of the human immunodeficiency virus.
Leading causes of death in other age groups were: ages 1 to 4, congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities, 1; ages 5 to 14, accidents, 1; ages 15 to 24, accidents, 9; ages 25 to 34, accidents, 2; ages 35 to 44, malignant neoplasms, 6; ages 45 to 54, malignant neoplasms, 14; ages 55 to 64, malignant neoplasms, 21; ages 65 to 74, malignant neoplasms, 38; ages 75 to 84, diseases of the heart, 49; and ages 85 and over, diseases of the heart, 61.
There was also a death related to HIV in the age 65-74 bracket.
Broken down by race, 609 whites died in 1999, of which 295 were male and 314 were female. Five African-Americans died in 1999, two were male, three female. There were also 11 hispanic deaths and two deaths in the "other" race category.
Both cases of HIV deaths in Kosciusko County in 1999 were white males.
Of the two suicides, both were white males. The one homicide was that of a white female. Deaths by motor vehicle accidents were 13 males, eight women, and all were white.
Deaths caused by malignant neoplasms of trachea, bronchus and lung totaled 41.
Deaths caused by malignant neoplasms of the colon, rectum and anus caused 16 deaths.
There were eight deaths related to malignant neoplasm of the the prostate, all white male, and nine deaths related to malignant neoplasm of the breast, all white female.
Remington said many people have a perception that cancer is common in their community. and while cancer is common, he said Kosciusko County has not stood out from the pack in malignancy. They will continue to "keep our fingers on the pulse. Nothing has hit my radar screen yet," he said.
He also said they want to be careful with any statistics they receive, and he said he trusts the figures from the state board of health more than national numbers.
Remington also presented the board with examples of how the state board of health can use the geographical imaging system and statistics to make a map of Kosciusko County showing where the most cases of certain health problems or populations are.
"They're just starting to play with this," he said.
In other business:
• Remington presented John Rouch with a staff award. Rouch works on the "environmental side" of the health department.
"He's a real worker," said Remington of Rouch. Rouch is known for his work statewide, he said, and "we can be really thankful to have him."
Rouch thanked the board for the award.
• The board approved the minutes of the last meeting and the staff reports. Bob Knudsen was reappointed to the board.
• Kosciusko County Health Administrator Bob Weaver announced Neal Brown started Monday as the new environmental specialist.
Weaver also announced the county approved the health department to use the monies collected from court fines to establish a fund for emergency use. The fund will be used to clean up problems in the county that might otherwise be left unattended.
He also reported the clinic will not move into the former Owens building because the building is too expensive and the owners of the building want to lease it, not sell it.
Kosciusko County Board of Health members are Dr. Wymond Wilson, Dr. Dennis Woodward, Dr. John W. Jones, Dr. Thomas Howard, Robert Knudsen and Dr. Karen Boling. Their next meeting is June 13 at 7 p.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw.
