[Report] DEATH RATES FROM MAJOR CAUSES IN THE UNITED STATES, 2010-2011

From the Insurance Information Institute

(another table on accident risks at the above link)

HEALTH RISKS

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for nearly 600,000 fatalities in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Influenza and pneumonia ranked ninth in 2010, accounting for some 50,000 fatalities. However, pandemic influenza viruses have the potential to be far more deadly. An estimated 675,000 Americans died during the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic, the deadliest and most infectious known influenza strain to date.

DEATH RATES FROM MAJOR CAUSES IN THE UNITED STATES, 2010-2011

Age-adjusted death rate (1) Cause of death Number of deaths, 2011 2010 2011 (2) Percent change Heart disease 596,339 179.1 173.7 -3.0% Malignant neoplasms (tumors) 575,313 172.8 168.6 -2.4 Chronic lower respiratory diseases 143,382 42.2 42.7 1.2 Cerebrovascular diseases (stroke) 128,931 39.1 37.9 -3.1 Accidents (unintentional injuries) 122,777 38.0 38.0 (3) Alzheimer’s disease 84,691 25.1 24.6 -2.0 Diabetes 73,282 20.8 21.5 3.4 Influenza and pneunonia 53,667 15.1 15.7 4.0 Kidney disease 45,731 15.3 13.4 -12.4 Intentional self-harm (suicide) 38,285 12.1 12.0 -0.8 Septicemia 35,539 10.6 10.5 -0.9 Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis 33,539 9.4 9.7 3.2 Hypertension (4) 27,477 8.0 8.0 (3) Parkinson’s disease 23,107 6.8 7.0 2.9 Pneumonitis due to solids and liquids 18,090 5.1 5.3 3.9 All other causes 512,723 NA NA NA Total deaths 2,512,873 747.0 740.6 -0.9%

(1) Per 100,000 population; factors out differences based on age.
(2) Preliminary.
(3) Less than 0.1 percent.
(4) Essential (primary) hypertension and hypertensive renal disease.

NA=Not applicable.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics.

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Additional Resource
Health Statistics Resources (jflahiff.wordpress.com)