New provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a significant 3.8% drop in the US death rate in 2024, marking the lowest rate since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This decline, bringing the rate down from 750.5 to 722 deaths per 100,000 people, is largely attributed to a decrease in COVID-19 related fatalities. For the first time since 2020, COVID-19 has fallen out of the top 10 leading causes of death, replaced by suicide.
The three leading causes of death remained consistent: heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries. While the overall number of deaths decreased slightly from 3.09 million in 2023 to 3.07 million in 2024, experts point to several contributing factors beyond the reduction in COVID-19 deaths. A notable decrease in drug overdose deaths, as reported by the CDC in May 2024, also played a significant role.
Dr. Farida Ahmad, corresponding author of the report and health scientist at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), highlighted the surprising return of suicide to the top 10 list after a period of decline. This underscores the complexity of mortality trends and the need for continued focus on various public health challenges.
Dr. Sharonne Hayes, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the Mayo Clinic, suggested that a return to pre-pandemic lifestyle patterns, after a period of disruption and increased risk factors, could also be contributing to the overall reduction in mortality. She emphasized the impact of healthier lifestyles in reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, and other leading causes of death.
Dr. Katie Schmitz, a cancer epidemiologist at the University of Pittsburgh, pointed out the ongoing challenge of cardiac disease and cancer-related deaths, particularly in an aging population with higher rates of comorbidities. She highlighted the significant impact of limited access to healthcare, especially in rural areas, on mortality rates. She stressed the urgent need for increased investment in preventative measures, such as tackling obesity and improving access to early screenings.
The report also revealed disparities in death rates across racial and ethnic groups, with the highest rates among the Black population and the lowest among multiracial individuals. Age also played a significant role, with the highest death rates observed among those aged 85 and older.
While the decrease in the overall death rate is encouraging, it underscores the continuing need for proactive public health strategies focusing on prevention, improved access to care, and addressing socioeconomic disparities to further reduce mortality across all demographics.
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Originally published at: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/us-death-rate-drops-4-2024-covid-falls/story?id=125414805
