Chronic disease mortality in Maine: assessing the targets for prevention.

From 1982 through 1991, nine chronic diseases accounted for over 55 percent of deaths in Maine. Using the lowest age-specific death rates as theoretically achievable rates, there were over 8,000 excess deaths. Over 25,000 deaths could be attributed to preventable causes over the 10-year period. Cigarette smoking was the single largest contributor to chronic disease mortality, accounting for 17,688 deaths, followed by physical inactivity, high blood pressure, and diet. This assessment provides a measure of the size of the chronic disease prevention target in Maine and is a first step in assessing the potential impact of prevention programs.