Dying in South Dakota: causes of mortality.
This article reviews South Dakota's historical death rates and reports recent death rates (2000-2006) and leading causes of death by gender, race, age and county. The recent leading causes of death in South Dakota were heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases and accidents. Accidents were the second leading cause of death for American Indians and the third leading cause of death for South Dakota males. Accidents were the leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 1 and 44. Sixty-three percent of deaths were among the elderly 75 years old and older. The age-adjusted death rate for South Dakota residents was lower than the national rate.