Variations in mortality of the coloured, white and Asian population groups in the RSA, 1978-1982. Part IV. Respiratory diseases

Respiratory diseases are major causes of death in South Africa. The reported mortality rates (MRs) for: (i) pneumonia and influenza; (ii) chronic obstructive lung disease and allied conditions; (iii) pulmonary tuberculosis; and (iv) carcinoma of the lung and bronchus over a 5-year period are examined in relation to age, sex, ethnic group and year. Such data have not previously been reported in South Africa. MRs for all respiratory diseases (except lung carcinoma) were substantially higher in coloureds than in whites or Asians. In each ethnic group and for each disease category, MRs for males were higher than for females, especially in those over the age of 24 years. For all, except lung carcinoma, MRs were highest at the extremes of life. Changes in respiratory disease MRs over the 5-year period were examined by calculating the age standardised MRs for each condition in each of the 5 years. There was a clear decline in the MR for pneumonia over this period in all groups. The MR for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rose in all groups, except Asian females. Similarly, the MR for carcinoma increased in all groups, except white females. The MR for tuberculosis was highest in coloured males (10 times greater than in Asian males and 100 times greater than in white females). The pattern of respiratory disease MRs in white South Africans is very similar to that in the USA, whereas in coloureds MRs for infectious diseases remain high and are added to by the burden of cigarette smoking-related deaths.     

Variations in mortality of the coloured, white and Asian population groups in the RSA, 1978-1982. Part VI. Ischaemic heart disease

An analysis of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) mortality for the period 1978-1982 showed markedly different rates for the Asian, white and coloured population groups in the RSA. Age-specific and age-standardised rates for Asians were in general considerably higher than those for whites, and did not show the marked decline with time observed in rates for whites. Although coloureds were seen to have considerably lower age-standardized rates than Asians or whites of the same sex, an increase in the age-standardised rates for coloured males over a 10-year period and a slight decrease among females suggested that rates for coloureds may be in the process of approaching those for the other groups. The observed decline in IHD rates among whites of both sexes suggests that preventable major risk factors may be coming under control, apparently to a greater extent in this group than among Asians or coloureds.     

Variations in mortality of the coloured white and Asian population groups in the RSA, 1978-1982. Part III. Rheumatic heart disease

An analysis was undertaken of mortality from rheumatic heart disease in the RSA between 1978 and 1982 in whites, coloureds and Asians. This article details the age-specific mortality rates (MRs) for each group and also comparisons between groups based on age-standardised MRs. The rates for Asians and coloureds markedly exceed those for whites, particularly in the lower age groups (under 45 years).     

Acute respiratory infections as an important cause of childhood deaths in South Africa

Compared with other major preventable childhood diseases, such as diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections (ARI) have received comparatively little attention as an important cause of death in children. In this study of mortality from ARI in South Africa, national data was examined for the period 1968-1985, and data for Greater Cape Town for 1987. Almost 90% of ARI deaths were attributable to pneumonia and large inter-group differences were found that favoured whites and Asians over blacks and coloureds. For example, during 1980-1985 the mortality rate for pneumonia in coloured infants under 1 year of age was 11 times that observed in whites (88 v. 981/100,000). Pneumonia accounted for 14.5% of coloured and 12.7% of black deaths under 1 year of age during this period, compared with 6.7% of white and Asian deaths. The mortality rates from pneumonia declined substantially (50%) over the 18-year period in whites, coloureds and Asians. Sequential data for blacks is not available. There was a marked seasonality of deaths among coloured and Asian infants, with rates peaking in winter months. In Cape Town, pneumonia is now a more important cause of death among white and coloured children than diarrhoea, while it ranks with diarrhoea as a cause of death in black children. In all population groups, death rates from ARI are from 7 times to 270 times greater than those recorded in Western European countries. Studies are urgently required to discover why South African children suffer such a high mortality from ARI and how these deaths can be prevented.     

Cause- and age-specific mortality rates from accidents, poisoning and violence

Cause- and age-specific mortality rates (MRs) were calculated for 1980 for all four population groups in the RSA for certain accidents, poisonings and violence as they are grouped in the WHO International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Cause-specific MRs of coloureds, Asians and blacks were age-adjusted to the age-distribution of whites in 1980 in order to judge the relative importance of the various causes of death. This showed that in whites and Asians motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) head the rank order of MRs; furthermore the first three MRs in the rank order, namely for MVAs, suicide and violence, are common in these two populations. A similar situation exists among coloureds and blacks in that the MRs for homicide rank first and the first four causes of death in the rank order of MRs--homicide, MVAs, violence and other accidents--are common to those two population groups. The fact that deaths from MVAs and violence rank so high in the MRs for all four population groups lends support to the contention that the RSA is a 'violent society'.     

Variations in mortality of the coloured, white and Asian population groups in the RSA, 1978-1982. Part II. Cerebrovascular disease

An analysis was undertaken of mortality from cerebrovascular disease in the RSA between 1978 and 1982 in whites, coloureds and Asians. This article details the age-specific mortality rates for each group and also comparisons between groups based on age-standardised mortality rates. Marked differences are seen between the various population groups, the rates for Asians and coloureds (particularly females) far exceeding that for whites. Comparison of these data with those published previously by Wyndham suggest that while mortality from this cause may be falling among whites and Asians, the rate is remaining relatively static in the coloured population.     

Trends in age-specific mortality rates for ischaemic heart disease, 1968 - 1977

Age-specific mortality rates (MRs) were calculated for each year of the period 1968 - 1977 for ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in males and females of the USA, Australia, Finland, Scotland, England and Wales, and of South Africa (Whites). The age range studied, in 10-year intervals, was 15 - 64 years. In the younger age groups (15-24, 25-34 and 35-44 years) the MRs of White South Africans were two to three times as high as those of other populations over the whole 10-year period. In the older age groups the differences narrowed. MRs for IHD in the USA decreased markedly in all age groups over the period studied, the decreases varying from 20% to 40%. Decreases in MRs for IHD also occurred among Australians and Finns but were neither as consistent nor as large as those occurring in the USA. No consistent changes were observed in the other three populations.     

Variations in mortality of the coloured, white and Asian population groups in the RSA, 1978-1982. Part I. All causes

Previous reports, based largely on the 1970 census and the 8th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, (ICD-8) have suggested that marked differences in mortality exist between population groups in the RSA. In this article the ICD-9 classification of causes of death and 1980 census are used to assess whether the trends have continued through to the present time. Total mortality data in the RSA for whites, coloureds and Asians for the 5-year period 1978-1982 are presented. The 1980 national census provided the denominator population data. Annual age- and sex-specific mortality rates were higher for coloureds than for whites or Asians, the differences being most marked in childhood. There appears to have been little change in total standardised mortality rates among whites over the 5-year period, while increases have occurred among coloureds of both sexes and among Asian males. Analysis of proportional mortality stresses the relatively large proportion of deaths accounted for by external causes and infections among coloureds and by cardiovascular diseases among whites and Asians. There is an urgent need for the health services to take note of these data in order to provide for the varied needs of the population.     

Maternal mortality in Cape Town, 1978-1983

During 1978-1983, 57 maternal deaths (23 in blacks, 32 in coloureds and 2 in whites) occurred among 131,288 deliveries (36,564 in blacks, 89,335 in coloureds and 5389 in whites) in the Peninsula Maternal and Neonatal Service, Cape Town. Data for whites were not analysed further. Maternal mortality rates (MMRs) were higher in blacks than in coloureds. Age- and parity-specific MMRs showed that black teenagers and primiparas and coloureds aged 20-34 years and of parity 2-4 had the lowest rates. Advanced age and grand multiparity had a much greater adverse effect in coloureds than in blacks. Eighteen per cent of deaths in blacks and 9% of those in coloureds were in unbooked patients. The main causes of death (obstetric and non-obstetric) in blacks were sepsis, abruptio placentae, eclampsia and pneumonia. In coloureds they were eclampsia, other manifestations of proteinuric hypertension, cardiac disease, sepsis, haemorrhage (grouped) and diabetes. Of those who died, 43% of blacks and 38% of coloureds had had a caesarean section. The perinatal mortality rate was 417 for blacks and 469 for coloureds. A number of avoidable factors were identified. Most, if not all, deaths occurred because simple perinatal rules were broken.     

Mortality from cardiovascular diseases in the various population groups in the Republic of South Africa

Cardiovascular mortality rates (MRs) for 1970 were calculated from Department of Statistics reports for the various populations of the RSA and showed that the MRs for chronic rheumatic heart disease were highest in Coloureds and lowest in Whites, the rates for Asians and Blacks being intermediate, and that a relatively high proportion of all cardiovascular deaths in the 15- 24-year group were due to this disease. It was also found that the pattern of cardiovascular diseases differed in the various population groups as follows: in White males the MRs for ischaemic heart disease (IHD) were high (4 times the rate for cerebrovascular disease (CVD). In White females the MRs for IHD and CVD were similar and accounted for most deaths from cardiovascular disease. The MRs for hypertensive disease were low in Whites. Asians in the older age groups had the highest MRs for IHD, CVD and hypertensive disease of all the population groups. The MRs for IHD of Asians in general exceeded those of Whites. Coloureds had high MRs for CVD, relatively high MRs for hypertensive disease and other forms of heart disease (mainly ill-defined heart disease) and relatively low MRs for IHD (compared with Asians and Whites). Blacks had high MRs for CVD and other forms of heart disease (mainly ill-defined heart disease), relatively high MRs for hypertensive disease and very low MRs for IHD. The MRs for cardiovascular diseases in Blacks are not reliable.     

The impact of diarrhoeal disease on childhood deaths in the RSA, 1968-1985

Diarrhoeal disease remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children in the RSA. In 1984, 8,984 deaths from diarrhoea of children under 5 years of age were registered, representing 27.7% of all registered deaths in this age group. Assuming a case/fatality ratio (deaths per 100 episodes of diarrhoea) of 0.6, it is estimated that 1.5 million cases of diarrhoea in children occurred during 1984 in the RSA. Analysis of diarrhoeal disease mortality rates revealed that the group at highest risk is black and coloured children under the age of 1 year. Over the period 1968-1985 there have been steady declines in diarrhoeal disease mortality rates for whites, coloureds and Asians. Uncertainty exists as to the true mortality rate in black children. A marked seasonal cycle is evident in diarrhoeal disease mortality rates for blacks and coloureds with peaks occurring in the period December-March. No seasonal effect on mortality is evident in the white and Asian groups. A nationally co-ordinated diarrhoea control programme is urgently needed in the RSA. This would involve a primary prevention component involving improved water supply, sanitation and sewerage, and a death prevention component emphasising the use of oral rehydration solutions. The seasonality in mortality suggests that the health education component of this programme should be aimed at the period just preceding the summer/autumn epidemic.     

Variations in mortality of the coloured, white and Asian population groups in the RSA, 1978-1982. Part V. Hypertensive diseases

An analysis was undertaken of mortality from hypertensive disease in the RSA between 1978 and 1982 among whites, coloureds and Asians. The age-specific mortality rates for each group are presented and comparisons are also made between these groups based on age-standardised mortality rates. As with a similar study undertaken for the period 1969-1971, marked variations are seen between the various population groups. The rates for Asians exceeded those for coloureds substantially, and both these groups had far higher rates than whites. These results demonstrate an interesting variation when compared with mortality from ischaemic heart disease and recent prevalence studies of hypertension. The possibility that this variation is due to better control of hypertension in whites or is a result of a different ratio of risk factors in each group studied is considered.     

The conundrum of increased burden of end-stage renal disease in Asians

BACKGROUND: Few cohort studies have examined the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among Asians compared with whites and blacks. METHODS: To compare the incidence of ESRD in Asians, whites, and blacks in Northern California, we examined sociodemographic and clinical data on 299,168 adults who underwent a screening health checkup at Kaiser Permanente between 1964 and 1985. Incident cases of ESRD were ascertained by matching patient identifiers with the nationally comprehensive United States Renal Data System ESRD registry. RESULTS: Overall, 1346 cases of ESRD occurred during 7,837,310 person-years of follow-up. The age-adjusted rate of ESRD (per 100,000 person-years) was 14.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.5-18.5] among Asians, 7.9 (95% CI 6.5-9.5) among whites, and 43.4 (95% CI 36.6-51.4)] among blacks. Controlling for age, gender, educational attainment, diabetes, prior myocardial infarction, serum creatinine, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, proteinuria, hematuria, cigarette smoking, serum total cholesterol, and body mass index increased the risk of ESRD in Asians relative to whites from 1.69 to 2.08 (95% CI 1.61-2.67). By contrast, adjustment for the same covariates decreased the risk of ESRD in blacks relative to whites from 5.30 to 3.28 (95% CI 2.91-3.69). CONCLUSION: Factors contributing to the excess ESRD risk in Asians relative to whites extend beyond usually considered sociodemographic and comorbidity disparities. Strategies aimed at examining novel risk factors for kidney disease and efforts to increase awareness of kidney disease among Asians may reduce ESRD incidence in this high-risk group.     

Deaths related to smoking in South Africa in 1984 and projected deaths among coloureds and blacks in the year 2000

Using a World Health Organization/International Agency for Research on Cancer classification of causes of death, we found that 34.5% of deaths among whites were attributable to smoking-related causes in 1984. The comparable figures for Asians, coloureds and blacks were 24.5%, 14.5% and 3.9% respectively. Age- and sex-specific death rates in 1984 for 35- to 64-year-olds among coloureds were greater than those among whites. Taking into account the expected ageing of the black population and the increased use of tobacco by blacks, smoking-related deaths are expected to increase by between 140 and 1,200% by the year 2000. Smoking-related diseases by 2000 will make a severe impact on the delivery of health services.     

Smoking and health in South Africa

In 1984 smoking rates among adults in South Africa were highest in coloureds (41.1%), followed by whites (34.9%), Asians (29.0%), and blacks (27.7%). With increased urbanisation, income, and education, black and coloured smoking rates are likely to rise. Current trends suggest that the proportion of smoking-related disease mortality and morbidity among coloureds and blacks will increase. Studies in South Africa and elsewhere have shown that smokers run an increased risk of coronary artery disease, lung, oesophageal, and cervical cancer, respiratory disease, gastrointestinal ulcers, and leukoedema. Non-smokers exposed to 'involuntary smoking' are also at risk, and smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking. The evidence for smoking-induced health damage is so compelling that action against smoking is urgently needed. Surveys of smoking habits among specific groups show the importance of peer and role model example, and suggest guidelines for the targeting of health education.     

Deaths from accidents, poisoning and violence--differences between the various population groups in the RSA

The pattern of deaths from accidents, poisoning and violence of the four population groups in the RSA for 1980 was examined in terms of the number of male and female deaths, separately and together, of certain WHO International Classification of Diseases (ICD) groupings of deaths from those causes. The main findings were: (i) that motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) accounted for 3.6% of all deaths in whites, 3.7% in coloureds, 3.1% in Asians and 2.2% in blacks, male deaths being 4 times as frequent as female and more than 70% of those deaths occurring in people under 40 years; 6% of MVAs in whites, 38% in coloureds, 17% in Asians and 34% in blacks involved pedestrians; (ii) that the next most common cause of death under these ICD headings was suicide in whites (1.6% of total) and homicide in coloureds (4.8% of total) and blacks (3.9% of total); and (iii) that under the ICD grouping 'other accidents', 45% of those deaths in whites, 58% in coloureds, 79% in Asians and 36% in blacks were due to drowning, with over 80% of deaths from drowning in people under 40 years.     

The changing pattern of cancer mortality in South Africa, 1949-1979

The first paper in this series was published in 1975 and covered the period 1949 - 1969 for whites, coloureds and Asians in South Africa. This period is now extended to 30 years, from 1949 to 1979 inclusive, and includes data for urban blacks from 33 selected urban areas for the period 1968 - 1977. This information was superseded by data for all blacks, both rural and urban, in 1978. As this is available only for 2 years, the data are not included in this series, and all mention of blacks indicates information on urban blacks only. It is reassuring to know that mortality and geographical data for urban and rural blacks can now be separated from each other for comparative purposes, and that, in the future, transitional trends due to such striking phenomena as migratory labour and emigration to industrial areas can now be determined by the year. Finally, instead of expressing mortality rates per 100 000 of the population, a new method called the "cumulative rate or risk' is used, which is carefully defined. Changes in cancer patterns in all four major population groups are reflected graphically over the period 1949 - 1979 (blacks since 1968) by this method, and trends over this long period are discussed in terms of the frequency of cancers within each group, prognosis, aetiological factors and other related aspects.     

Incidence of hip fractures in the elderly: A cross-national analysis

This paper reviews international data on incidence rates of hip fracture in persons 50 years of age and older, based on a bibliographic search of articles published since 1960. Incidence rates are higher in white populations than in black, Asian, and Hispanic populations. In both sexes and in all ethnic groups and geographic areas, incidence rates increase markedly with age. The steep increase with age, however, occurs later in black, Asiatic and Hispanic populations than in whites. The ratio of female to male incidence rates is higher than 1.0 in whites, while in blacks and Asians it has often been the reverse, with higher rates among men. In recent years in Hong Kong incidence rates in females have increased more rapidly than incidence rates in males, so that now the incidence rates in females are higher than those in males. In addition to the study in Hong Kong, most studies in Northern Europe and North America show an increase in age-adjusted hip fracture incidence rates over time over the past few decades. Methodological differences among the various studies (including differences in the definition of hip fracture, in case ascertainment, and in the selection and sample size of the study population) necessitate cautious interpretation of the findings of this report.     

Deaths from and mortality rates for largely preventable causes of death in whites in the RSA. Comparison of the situations in 1970 and 1980

The numbers of deaths from and age-adjusted mortality rates (MRs) for largely preventable causes of death in white males and females aged 15 - 64 years in 1970 and 1980 were compared. The causes of death considered were lung cancer, ischaemic heart disease (IHD), cerebrovascular disease, chronic lung diseases, cirrhosis of the liver, motor vehicle accidents and suicide. In spite of an increase in the white population in this age group from 2,39 million in 1970 to 2,93 million in 1980, the number of deaths from the above causes decreased, with two exceptions. The exceptions were lung cancer, where the number of deaths increased from 482 in 1970 to 535 in 1980, and suicide--up from 433 to 516. The decreases over the 10-year period were substantial in some cases. For example, the number of deaths from IHD fell from 4000 to 3486. The MRs (those for 1980 were age-adjusted) decreased over the 10-year period in all cases, except in the case of lung cancer where the MR remained at 20/100 000. This seems to indicate that anti-smoking campaigns in RSA have not yet begun to influence the incidence of this disease in the white population.     

Mortality from external causes in South African adolescents, 1984-1986.

The external causes of death in South African adolescents are described. Nationally registered mortality data for 1984-1986 were used to calculate proportional mortality. Mortality rates were also calculated, except in the case of black deaths, since these deaths are known to be under-registered and the estimated population figures are known to be inaccurate. Of the 16,348 adolescent deaths registered in 1984-1986, external causes accounted for 56.8% and symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions for 10.0%. A greater proportion of girls died from symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions whereas a greater proportion of boys died from external causes. A larger proportion of black adolescent deaths were categorised as symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions. The risk of death by external cause for coloureds aged 15-19 years was 1.7 that of whites, while in the 10-14 year age group it was the same as that of whites. In the 15-19-year age group assault was the most common external cause of death in blacks and coloureds, compared with road accidents for whites. The highest number of deaths by external cause per day occurred over the Christmas period. The analysis indicated that mortality rates in South African adolescents are high and that many deaths may be the result of risk-taking behaviour. With the increasing urbanisation of blacks, the impact of external causes of death can be expected to increase further.