It is more important than ever to comprehend the changes in public health as the globe comes out of the COVID-19 shadow. A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information on the top five causes of mortality in the US throughout the 2019–2023 period. The results, which were released in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), offer a thorough summary of the leading causes of mortality and highlight important developments that have happened throughout this time.

1. The leading causes of death are still cancer and heart disease.

Heart disease and cancer remain the top two causes of mortality in the US, despite advancements in medical research and treatment. For almost than a century, heart disease has been the leading cause of death, and the COVID-19 epidemic hasn’t done anything to alter that. More than 650,000 Americans lose their lives to cardiovascular disease every year, a startling figure that emphasizes the ongoing difficulty this illness presents.

In 2023, cancer emerged as the second most common cause of death, accounting for almost 613,000 deaths. While there has been a modest drop in the overall death rates of cancer and heart disease since 2009, these illnesses are still much too common. Primary care has a crucial role in both controlling and preventing chronic illnesses, according to Dr. Asaf Bitton, an associate professor of medicine and healthcare policy at Harvard Medical School. “With the help of good primary care providers, many cases of heart disease and cancer could be prevented or managed,” adds Bitton.

2. The Effects of COVID-19 are Reducing, But They’re Not Finished

In 2020, COVID-19 became the third most common cause of death in the United States after sweeping the globe. In just four years, the virus has taken over a million American lives—a startling statistic that highlights the pandemic’s severity. COVID-19, however, has fallen to the bottom of the list of the top 10 causes of death by 2023.

Widespread immunization and the building of immunity from previous diseases are to blame for this drop. Because of immunization, prior infection, or both, almost all Americans currently possess antibodies against the virus. Jodie Guest, senior vice chair of the epidemiology department at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, observes that the death rate from COVID-19 has significantly decreased as a result of this broad protection. She does, however, issue a warning, pointing out that COVID-19 is still a hazard, with around 50,000 fatalities linked to it in 2023 alone. Farida Ahmad, co-author of the report and head mortality monitoring researcher at the CDC’s Division of Vital Statistics, continues, “We’re not out of the woods yet.”

3. An Increase in Drug Overdoses and Alcohol-Related Fatalities

According to the CDC data, there is an alarming trend of more people dying from alcohol-related liver disease and drug overdoses. Between 2019 and 2023, unintentional injuries—which include drug overdoses—were the third most common cause of death annually, with the exception of 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 momentarily overshadowed them. During this time, the fatality rate from accidental injuries rose by 26%; experts attribute this increase mostly to the opioid crisis.

The tenth most common cause of death in 2023 was chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, which are frequently associated with obesity and binge drinking. Over the last five years, there has been a 15% increase in the death rate for these illnesses. The need for more comprehensive public health interventions to address drug misuse and unhealthy lifestyles, as well as increased study into the mechanisms causing these increases, is highlighted by this trend.

4. Although Suicide Deaths Have Dropped in the Rankings, They Still Raise Concerns

Suicide is still a serious public health concern, but by 2023 it will no longer rank among the top 10 causes of death. Although the ranking has reduced, experts warn that the real suicide rate has not decreased. As a matter of fact, from 13.9 per 100,000 persons in 2019 to 14.1 in 2023, the suicide rate increased little.

Dr. Bitton is cautiously optimistic about this. “If one were to look at it optimistically, following the clear behavioral and mental crisis of 2020 and 2021, in terms of the astounding number of people feeling depressed and seeking care, [the data suggests] that did not translate to a huge shift in suicide, which is good,” according to him. Suicide is still common, though, and this suggests that more work needs to be done to address mental health concerns and offer assistance to people who are at risk, especially among disadvantaged groups.

5. Modifying One’s Lifestyle Can Prevent Many Deaths

The fact that many of the major causes of death are avoidable is among the most significant lessons to be learned from the CDC study. According to the American Heart Association, changing one’s lifestyle might save the majority of fatalities from heart disease and stroke. In a similar vein, new data from the American Cancer Society revealed that modifiable variables including food, physical exercise, and smoking account for about half of all cancer-related fatalities.

Immunizations continue to be a vital component in the fight against infectious illnesses such as COVID-19, the flu, and pneumococcal pneumonia. Furthermore, early diagnosis and routine health screenings can dramatically lower the death rate from diseases including colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer.

Dr. Bitton stresses that in order to increase life expectancy, good practices must be adopted. “If we can help a person do [several] things — not smoke, exercise, not drink too much alcohol, control their weight and blood pressure, get some cancer screenings on a regular basis — we’re well on our way to increasing life expectancy by like a decade,” according to him. Even though they are difficult, these lifestyle adjustments are essential for those who wish to live longer, healthier lives.

The most recent data from the CDC on the country’s top causes of death provides insightful information on the health issues the country is now experiencing. Even though cancer and heart disease are still the leading causes of mortality, COVID-19’s effects, the rise in drug overdose deaths and alcohol-related liver disease deaths, and the enduring problem of suicide highlight the need for further public health initiatives. Many of these fatalities may be avoided or postponed by emphasizing early intervention and prevention, which will eventually improve Americans’ health and well-being.