Loading...
What were the leading causes of death in the U.S. during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic? In this study, NIH epidemiologists determined the leading causes of death overall and by age groups. They then compared the first 9 months (March to December 2020) with the second 9 months (January to October 2021). About 3 million deaths occurred in each study period. Key findings were as follows:
The top five causes of death overall were the same for each period: heart disease, cancer, COVID-19, accidental deaths, and stroke.
Death caused by heart disease, cancer, and COVID-19 accounted for most deaths among people who were 55 or older.
Among people who were 85 or older, COVID-19 was the second leading cause of death during the first 9 months and the third leading cause during the second 9 months.
Among middle-aged people (age range, 45–54), COVID-19 was the fourth leading cause of death during the first 9 months and the top cause of death during the second 9 months.
For every age group between 15 and 44, COVID-19 increased in rank as a cause of death and emerged as a top-five cause of death during the second 9 months of the pandemic.
For every age group from 1 to 44, accidental death was the top cause of death for both time periods.
Shiels MS et al. Leading causes of death in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic, March 2020 to October 2021. JAMA Intern Med 2022 Aug; 182:883. (https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.2476)
Comment
This study has three key findings: COVID-19 was a leading cause of death in the U.S. during the first 18 months of the pandemic, COVID-19 decreased in rank among older people and increased in rank among younger people during 2021, and accidental death remains the number one killer among younger people. The authors speculate the age-related changes in rank of COVID-19 as a cause of death were driven by higher vaccination rates in 2021 among older age groups.