Chronic Disease in NM Statistics

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in New Mexico, with an estimated 150,000 adults and 47,000 children currently having the disease.

The five leading causes of alcohol-related chronic disease death in New Mexico are: alcohol-related chronic liver disease, alcohol dependence, hypertension, alcohol abuse, and hemorrhagic stroke. Alcohol-related chronic liver disease is the leading cause of alcohol-related death in New Mexico, with a rate almost twice the second leading cause (fall injuries).

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in New Mexico and accounts for over 20% of all deaths.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in New Mexico

Diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death for New Mexicans and the 7th leading cause in the U.S. Diabetes complications, which are costly to individuals, families and to society, include premature death, cardiovascular disease, blindness, end stage kidney disease, and lower extremity amputations.

Hospitalization is costly for individuals as well as for families and society. Based on 2007 American Diabetes Association estimates, direct health care costs for diabetes and its complications was about $1.7 billion in New Mexico alone.

Among New Mexican women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer, and is the second leading cause of death from cancer.

Among New Mexicans, lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women, and is the leading cause of cancer death overall. Approximately 90% of lung cancer cases in men and 80% in women are attributable to cigarette smoking (New Mexico Cancer Plan 2012-2017).

Obesity is associated with an increased risk for a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers (endometrial, colon, kidney, esophageal, and post-menopausal breast cancer.) In both New Mexico and the United States, the percentage of adults who are obese, based on telephone survey data, has more than doubled since 1990. Excess weight also contributes to the development of arthritis, a chronic disease that is the leading cause of disability amongst adults in the nation and the state.

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. One in five adults and one in five youth smoke in New Mexico. About half of all lifetime smokers will die early because of their tobacco use. In New Mexico, about 2,100 people die from tobacco use annually and another 42,000 are living with tobacco-related diseases. Annual smoking-related costs in New Mexico are $954 million ($461 million in direct medical costs and $493 million in lost productivity).

Reference:
https://ibis.health.state.nm.us/community/highlight/report/GeoCnty/43.html