As the COVID-19 pandemic subsided, life expectancy in the United States started to rise again in 2022. However, there was a concerning increase in deaths among children and a continued surge in drug overdose fatalities, according to new government research.
The final report for 2022, released by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday, revealed a 1.1-year uptick in overall life expectancy, bringing it to 77.5 years at birth.
Although this increase is a positive development, it only recoups less than half of the 2.4 years lost during the initial two years of the pandemic. Experts noted that American life expectancy remains lower than it has been in almost two decades.
Dr. [ppp1], director emeritus of the Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health, emphasized that life expectancy reflects the population’s health status. He highlighted the positive impact of widespread vaccination in reducing mortality rates and the gradual return to normal medical care for chronic illnesses, which is reflected in the rebound of life expectancy figures.
Despite these improvements, many other affluent nations have seen more significant recoveries in life expectancy compared to the United States.
The decline in the age-adjusted death rate for COVID-19 by more than half from 2021 to 2022 played a crucial role in lowering the overall death rate by 9%. Heart disease remained the primary cause of death, followed by cancer, with slight decreases in death rates for both. However, together, these two conditions still accounted for about 40% of all deaths nationwide.
A troubling trend highlighted in the report is the rising death rate among children. Deaths among children aged 1 to 4 surged by 12% from 2021 to 2022, while the death rate for children aged 5 to 14 increased by 7% year-on-year. The infant mortality rate also rose, contrasting with the declining death rates in other age groups.
Dr. [ppp1] expressed concern about the deteriorating health status of Americans, especially children, emphasizing the need to address this alarming trend.
Drug overdoses were a significant contributor to the increased death rates, with fatalities reaching a record high in 2022. Nearly 108,000 individuals succumbed to drug overdoses, surpassing the previous year’s toll. Factors driving the overdose epidemic were multifaceted, as highlighted by [ppp2], a Bloomberg Professor of American Health at the University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health.
She underscored the importance of scaling up evidence-based interventions and services to combat the drug crisis effectively, pointing out the potential of telehealth services and support systems in reaching and assisting those in need.
The pandemic, while potentially exacerbating the overdose epidemic, also presented opportunities to expand access to crucial interventions and care services, emphasizing the necessity of scaling up these resources to mitigate harm and support individuals effectively.
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