DOH releases data reports on health facilities, vital statistics and cancer

The Alaska Health Analytics and Vital Records Section (HAVRS), which oversees data from the Alaska Cancer Registry (ACR) and Medical Marijuana Registry that is later shared as needed, has released three annual data reports offering insights for health care professionals, policymakers, and the general public.

The following reports are now available on the HAVRS Data and Statistics page of the Department of Health website:

-Alaska Health Facilities Data Reporting (HFDR) Program 2024 Annual Report

-Alaska Vital Statistics 2024 Annual Report

-Cancer in Alaska 2022 Annual Report

The reports are crucial for understanding health trends and guiding public health initiatives in Alaska. Descriptions and highlights from each report follow.

The HFDR Program 2024 Annual Report describes health facility use in Alaska, using data provided by hospitals and other health care facilities across the state.

Among the highlights reported, Alaska health facilities reported 62,201 inpatient hospitalizations, worth $6 billion in billed charges. Among the leading causes of hospitalization were liveborn infant deliveries, septicemia and alcohol-related disorders.

Alaska health facilities reported 298,183 emergency department visits, worth $1.8 billion in billed charges. The leading causes of emergency department visits were abdominal pain, upper respiratory infections and chest pain.

Alaska Vital Statistics 2024 Annual Report contains information about Alaska resident births, deaths, and fetal deaths, as well as Alaska occurrences of marriages, divorces, and adoptions during calendar year 2024.

In 2024, Alaska recorded 8,950 births and 5,525 deaths. The fertility rate was 61 births per 1,000 women ages 14-45 years, and life expectancy here in the state increased to 77.6 years.

The state’s leading causes of death remained: malignant neoplasms (cancer), heart disease and accidents.

The final report, the Cancer in Alaska 2022 Annual Report, which originates from the Alaska Cancer Registry, details how many people were diagnosed with cancer, the types of cancer reported, and what cancer deaths were recorded.

Alaska clinicians reported 3,401 new cancer cases, with breast and prostate being the most common. Notably, pancreatic, uterine and melanoma cancers all increased in incidence. The good news is that the cancer death rate decreased, to 146.7 per 100,000 people.

HAVRS collects and manages data on important life events like births, deaths, marriages, and hospital visits, as well as. It also oversees data from the Alaska Cancer Registry (ACR) and Medical Marijuana Registry. This information is shared with the public through reports and dashboards, and special data requests can be made. For more information, visit www.health.alaska.gov/en/education/alaska-health-data/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery