USA TODAY
The average life expectancy in the United States rose significantly in 2023 to 78.4 years, up nearly a year from 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is the second consecutive year of improvement and returns life expectancy to levels not seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The increase is primarily attributed to a sharp decline in deaths from COVID-19, which fell by 73% as vaccination rates increased and the pandemic subsided. COVID, which was the fourth leading cause of death in 2022, fell to 10th place last year.
Dr. Steven Wolf, director emeritus of the Center for Community and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University, called the new figures “very encouraging,” as concerns about the ability to return to pre-pandemic life expectancy levels had been raised.
In addition, death rates have declined for nine of the 10 leading causes of death, with the exception of cancer, which showed no significant change. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death, followed by cancer, accidents, stroke, respiratory diseases, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease and COVID-19.
Fewer overdose deaths
In a separate report, the CDC showed a 4 percent decline in drug overdose deaths in 2023, the first decline since 2018. Overdose deaths from synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, which had been on the rise over the past decade, have declined as public health efforts have intensified.
Efforts such as increased access to naloxone, widespread access to treatments such as buprenorphine and increased awareness of the dangers of fentanyl have helped the decline, public health experts say.
Dr. Joshua Sharfstein of Johns Hopkins University praised the initiatives, noting that they are starting to save lives. Overdose deaths are expected to continue to decline through 2024, according to White House officials, with provisional data showing a 14.5 percent decline from July 2023 to June 2024.
Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, attributed the decline to strategies targeting the supply of illicit fentanyl and the wider distribution of overdose reversal drugs. “There were 16,000 fewer overdose deaths over the past year,” Gupta said.
U.S. life expectancy still lags behind other countries
Despite these gains, life expectancy in the United States is lower than in other wealthy countries. Long-term issues such as drug overdoses, suicides, alcohol-related deaths, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure continue to disproportionately affect working-age adults.
Dr. Wolfe cautioned that while recent advances are promising, they mask deeper systemic health challenges in the United States. His research identified 35 rising causes of death among younger adults, suggesting broader issues beyond what are often called “deaths of despair.”
Life expectancy gains across all groups
Most age groups benefited from lower death rates in 2023, with the largest declines for adults ages 25 to 64. Death rates for Hispanic men and American Indian and Alaska Native populations fell by more than 10 percent. Improvements were also seen among Asian, black, and white populations.
Life expectancy for men increased by one year to 74.8 years, while for women it increased by 0.9 years to an average of 81.1 years. These gains reflect progress across gender and racial groups, although disparities remain.
While infant and child mortality rates have remained stable, overall improvements in life expectancy suggest that the United States is making strides in public health. Although much work remains to close the gap with other countries.
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