Study: U.S. death rate down 43% since 1969

The age-standardized death rate for all causes combined fell 43% between 1969 and 2013, according to a study reported in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association. Among leading causes of death, age-standardized rates fell by 77% for stroke, 68% for heart disease, 40% for unintentional injuries, 18% for cancer, and 17% for diabetes. The death rate for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increased 101% over the period, but began to decrease for men in 1999. “The progress against heart disease and stroke is attributed to improvements in control of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, smoking cessation and medical treatment,” the authors said. “The reduction in cancer deaths since the early 1990s is also an outcome of tobacco control efforts, as well as advances in early detection and treatment.”