Preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a significant shift in the landscape of mortality in the United States. For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus has fallen out of the top ten leading causes of death in 2024. While still ranking within the top fifteen, this marks a considerable decline from its peak in 2021, when over 463,000 lives were lost to the disease.
This drop is part of a broader downward trend in overall mortality. The year 2024 saw a 4% decrease in deaths compared to the previous year, marking the third consecutive year of this decline. This reduction is observed across various demographics, including different age groups, races, and ethnicities. Contributing factors include fewer fatalities from COVID-19 and a decrease in drug overdose deaths.
Heart disease and cancer continue to reign as the top two causes of death, accounting for over 40% of all fatalities in 2024. Other leading causes included suicide, diabetes, kidney disease, and unintentional injuries. Interestingly, the decline in infectious disease mortality highlights a success in combating such illnesses, allowing individuals to live longer and ultimately succumbing to chronic conditions.
However, addressing chronic diseases presents unique challenges. Factors such as genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental conditions significantly influence their development. Access to healthcare and socioeconomic factors play a crucial role, as evidenced by the higher death rates among men, older adults, and Black Americans. A lack of affordable healthy food, inadequate health insurance, and limited access to quality healthcare contribute to these disparities.
The implications of these shifts in mortality extend to public health policies. Experts raise concerns about recent policy decisions that may inadvertently worsen the leading causes of death. Cuts to vital programs such as food assistance, scientific research, and Medicaid, along with limitations on vaccine access, are viewed as counterproductive to improving public health outcomes. The need for comprehensive and equitable strategies to tackle both infectious and chronic diseases is paramount to ensuring a healthier future for all Americans.
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Originally published at: https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/09/10/nx-s1-5537078/u-s-death-rates-covid-2024
