US Life Expectancy Falls for First Time in 23 Years, with Rises for 8 of the 10 Leading Causes of Death

Life expectancy fell in the US last year for the first time in more than two decades, with death rates tied to eight of the ten leading causes of death all on the rise according to new data from the National Center for Health Statistics.

The last time life expectancy fell was in 1993 in the midst of the HIV/Aids epidemic. Drops have otherwise been rare as life expectancy has incrementally increased since the end of the Second World War.

Rises in death rates from heart disease, accidents (including drug overdoses), and Alzheimer’s were among the primary factors in the decline. There were also moderate increases in deaths from strokes, diabetes and suicide.

Of the ten leading causes of deathH only cancer killed fewer people as a portion of the population, with the death rate from influenza and pneumonia not changing significantly.

The increase in death rates cut across races and genders, with black women as the only major demographic group for whom the rate did not rise. The biggest rise came among white women, with increases also found among both white and black men.

Link to full article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/08/us-life-expectancy-falls-first-time-23-years-rises-8-10-...