A study published Oct. 27 in JAMA found an overall decreasing trend in the age-standardized U.S. death rate between 1969 and 2013 for all causes combined, and for diabetes, heart disease, cancer, stroke, unintentional injuries, and diabetes. However, the rate for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) doubled over this period, largely reflecting the lagged effects of smoking prevalence. An editorial about the study notes that while such information about death is important, it fails to paint a comprehensive picture of health progress in the U.S.
Read the study in JAMA: Temporal Trends in Mortality in the United States, 1969-2013
Read the editorial in JAMA: Mortality Trends and Signs of Health Progress in the United States: Improving Understanding and Action
