For the first time since the onset of the pandemic, COVID-19 has dropped out of the top 10 causes of death in the United States, as indicated by early data for 2024 released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This significant shift marks a notable change, given that COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in 2020 and remained a top contender until recently. Although COVID-19 is no longer in the top 10, it still ranks within the top 15 leading causes of death, highlighting that the virus has not completely vanished from public health concerns, according to Farida Ahmad, a health scientist at the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics.
Since reaching its peak in 2021, when over 463,000 individuals lost their lives to COVID-19, the disease has been steadily declining in terms of mortality rates. In the past year, it was a factor in approximately 47,000 deaths across the United States. This decline is part of a broader trend, with overall deaths decreasing by 4% from the previous year. Notably, this marks the third consecutive year of declining death rates, as confirmed by Ahmad.
The decrease in death rates is not limited to COVID-19; it spans various age groups, races, and ethnicities. Several factors contribute to this trend, including fewer deaths linked to COVID-19 and a reduction in drug overdose fatalities. The leading causes of death in the current year encompass suicide, diabetes, kidney disease, and unintentional injuries. Chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer continue to dominate, accounting for more than 40% of U.S. deaths in 2024.
Data reveals that death rates are disproportionately higher for men compared to women, for older adults, and for Black Americans relative to other racial and ethnic groups. Kathleen Ethier, a former CDC official, notes that the increasing longevity of individuals, who are now more likely to die from chronic diseases rather than infectious diseases, reflects advancements in public health measures. Ethier emphasizes that addressing chronic diseases requires different strategies since these conditions often develop gradually and are influenced by behavior, environment, and genetics.
Chronic conditions like heart disease present unique challenges, as individuals may face heightened risks based on family history, environmental stressors, dietary habits, and access to healthcare services. Ethier points out that socioeconomic factors, such as food affordability and health insurance coverage, play a critical role in public health outcomes, making it difficult to implement effective interventions.
In a related development, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently released a report titled Make Our Children Healthy Again, which has received mixed feedback from public health advocates. Critics note that the report's objectives conflict with recent actions taken by the Trump Administration, including reductions in food assistance programs, scientific research funding, and modifications that limit vaccine accessibility. As the public health landscape evolves, addressing the complexities of chronic disease will remain a key priority for health officials moving forward.
