Cardiovascular disease refers to diseases that affect both the heart and blood vessels. Diseases of the heart are any disorders that affect the heart, such as, coronary heart disease, heart failure, sudden cardiac death and hypertensive heart disease. Stroke, atherosclerosis, peripheral artery disease and hypertension are examples of diseases of the blood vessels.

Epidemiology Summary 

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in Michigan and the United States. When separated, heart disease is the number one cause of death overall, while stroke is the number four cause of death in Michigan and the number three cause of death in the United States. Each disease affects the population differently.

Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology Staff

Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiologist: Adrienne Nickles, MPH 

What We Do 

We conduct surveillance on the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the prevalence of the diseases, the use of prevention health services, the quality of care received and the health outcomes due to these diseases.

For program information on cardiovascular disease, physical activity and nutrition go to www.michigan.gov/cvh.

Publications

Reports

• Impact of Heart Disease and Stroke in Michigan: 2008 Report on Surveillance (PDF) 

Fact Sheets 

• Women and Cardiovascular Disease in Michigan (PDF) 

Presentations 

• Persistent High Cardiovascular Health Related Burden in Michigan Five-County Cluster (PDF) 

Below you will find a presentation that can be used by the general public. It includes some of the highlights from the Impact of Heart Disease and Stroke in Michigan: 2008 Report on Surveillance. 

Presenter notes have been included for your convenience. To view them right click on the link and save to your computer. 

• Presentation on the Impact of Heart Disease and Stroke in Michigan   (PPT) 

Links

Links to other sites related to cardiovascular disease epidemiology:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention

Click here to go back to the Chronic Disease Epidemiology Unit Webpage 

You must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in order to properly view the PDF documents. You can get a free copy of this software by visiting Adobe's website.