mortality rates

18 Stories

US Infant Mortality Rate Went the Wrong Way Last Year

At 3%, it's the largest increase in 2 decades, reports the CDC

(Newser) - The US infant mortality rate rose 3% last year—the largest increase in two decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. White and Native American infants, infant boys, and babies born at 37 weeks or earlier had significant death rate increases, reports the AP . The CDC's...

Boys, Young Men Getting Short End of Mortality Stick
In Deaths of Young
People, a Stark
Gender Gap
NEW STUDY
Nov 2, 2021 1:50 PM CDT

In Deaths of Young People, a Stark Gender Gap

New research finds nearly 2/3 of deaths worldwide in 2019 in 10-24 age group were boys, young men

(Newser) - A group of researchers examined long-term mortality trends among young people, and one finding especially sticks out. Per the study published Saturday in the Lancet journal , males are more likely than their female counterparts to die young, and in many nations, that gender gulf is only getting bigger. The research—...

Report: 90K COVID Deaths Over Last 3 Months Likely Preventable

Kaiser Family Foundation blames lack of vaccinations

(Newser) - COVID-19 was the second leading cause of death for all Americans last month, but for one group in particular, it hit even harder. According to a new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Peterson Center on Healthcare cited by ABC News , the virus killed 1,899 people daily...

This Nation Now Claims a Global Worst for COVID

After criteria for coronavirus deaths expanded, Peru finds out it has worst mortality rate per capita

(Newser) - Last month, researchers determined that the global death toll from the coronavirus is double what's been reported thus far. Now, one country's recalculations have bestowed upon it a depressing statistic. After figuring out this week it can tack 100,000 more COVID deaths onto its official count, Peru...

Data Show Unrecognized Toll on Asian Americans From Virus

US deaths overall during pandemic have risen much more among minorities than whites

(Newser) - As many as 215,000 more people than usual died in the US during the first seven months of 2020, suggesting that the number of lives lost to the coronavirus is significantly higher than the official toll. Half the dead were people of color—Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and, to...

On Cancer Death Rate in the US, a Historic Dip

2.2% drop in 2017 is biggest single-year decline in mortality rate, helped along by lung cancer gains

(Newser) - Since 1930, the American Cancer Society has been tracking the cancer death rate in the US—the number of deaths per 100,000 people—and its latest report shows the biggest single-year drop ever: 2.2% in 2017, reports the Washington Post . That record one-year decline is tacked onto a...

'Bleak' New Report on Life Expectancy Is Out

More Americans are dying young

(Newser) - The Journal of the American Medical Association is out with a new report on US life expectancy and mortality rates that LiveScience calls "alarming" and the Washington Post calls "strikingly bleak": It found, among other things, that the highest relative jump in death rates from 2010 to 2017,...

As Doctor's Age Climbs, So Does Patient Death Rate
As Doctor's Age Climbs,
So Does Patient Death Rate
NEW STUDY
May 18, 2017 12:05 PM CDT

As Doctor's Age Climbs, So Does Patient Death Rate

Researchers say finding is 'clinically important'

(Newser) - Having a more experienced doctor might not be best. That's the message from a Harvard Medical School study published in the British Medical Journal that appears to show patient mortality rate increases with the age of a doctor. The increase is small but significant: In a study of more...

Peanuts, Nuts May Keep You From Dying
 Peanuts, Nuts 
 May Keep You 
 From Dying 
STUDY SAYS
Jun 11, 2015 1:43 PM CDT

Peanuts, Nuts May Keep You From Dying

But alas—peanut butter doesn't seem to make a difference

(Newser) - Previous studies have documented that scarfing down peanuts or nuts every day can lead to better cardiovascular health. But now research is suggesting that eating peanuts and tree nuts like almonds, cashews, and walnuts are linked to lower mortality rates, per a Maastricht University press release . The study, published online...

Study: 51% of Dead Rappers Were Murdered

Fascinating study analyzed the deaths of 13K musicians

(Newser) - A note for aspiring musicians: The country music path is much safer than the rap game, at least when it comes to murder. That's the takeaway from a fascinating new study in the Conversation . Psychology and music professor Dianna Theadora Kenny analyzed the deaths of 13,000 musicians who...

Anti-Anxiety Drug Makes Fish Live Longer
Anti-Anxiety Drug
Makes Fish Live Longer 
STUDY SAYS
Aug 8, 2014 11:30 AM CDT

Anti-Anxiety Drug Makes Fish Live Longer

Human tranquilizer makes perch aggressive but also seems to increase longevity

(Newser) - On the one hand, fish exposed to the tranquilizer oxazepam when it seeps into their waters kind of become jerks, reports a study in Nature . On the other hand, this same drug, a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety and insomnia in human adults, apparently helps them live longer, reports Nature...

Vodka Killing Huge Numbers of Russian Men

Binge-drinking behind alarmingly high early death rate

(Newser) - Russian men who down large amounts of vodka—and too many do—have an "extraordinarily" high risk of an early death, a new study says. Researchers who tracked about 151,000 Russian men from 1999 to 2010 found that the risk of dying before age 55 for those who...

4 Surprising Things That Have Kept Us Alive

Turns out cotton is literally the fabric of our lives

(Newser) - In a piece last week on Slate , Laura Helmuth took a long and interesting look at what she dubs "the most important difference between the world today and 150 years ago": the doubling of our lifespan, from about 40 years to about 80. She looked at the big reasons...

Want to Live Long? Golf Just as Good as Cycling, Rowing

Study of nearly 10K Olympians showed high cardio doesn't help mortality

(Newser) - Golf may be "a good walk, spoiled," but at least it doesn't spoil your life expectancy. In fact, a new study finds that heavy cardio sports like cycling and rowing do nothing to help you live longer than playing golf or cricket, reports the Wall Street Journal...

Medicaid Expansion Could Save Lives
 Medicaid Expansion 
 Could Save Lives 
STUDY SAYS
Jul 26, 2012 8:37 AM CDT

Medicaid Expansion Could Save Lives

Lower death rates associated with expansions in 3 states

(Newser) - As states decide whether to expand Medicaid by 2014 under ObamaCare, a new study could give them a compelling reason to do so: Harvard researchers found that fewer people died in states that expanded their programs. The study looked at data from New York, Maine, and Arizona, all of which...

Vitamins Boost Women's Mortality Rate: Study

 Vitamins Boost 
 Women's Risk 
 of Dying 
study says
Oct 10, 2011 2:50 PM CDT

Vitamins Boost Women's Risk of Dying

High concentration of nutrients may turn toxic: researchers

(Newser) - Popping too many vitamins may actually shorten your life, a new study says. Researchers looked at the supplement intake of 38,000 women, starting in their early 60s, over 19 years—and found vitamin-users had a 2.4% higher chance of dying. Multivitamins, B6, iron, zinc, copper, folic acid, and...

US Health Care Stinks: Study
 US Health Care
 Stinks: Study 
Jul 17, 2008 10:33 AM CDT

US Health Care Stinks: Study

Huge inefficiencies put American system last among 19 developed nations

(Newser) - The US health care system gets dismal grades in a ranking of 19 industrialized countries, Reuters reports. A private foundation looked at key indicators like efficiency and access, and found the US did very poorly despite spending the most money—putting it last on the list. Health-care dollars were squandered...

US Cancer Deaths on the Rise
US Cancer Deaths on the Rise
Feb 20, 2008 12:00 PM CST

US Cancer Deaths on the Rise

But mortality rate is still dropping, doctors say

(Newser) - Cancer deaths in the US rose slightly in 2005, according to the American Cancer Society's latest report, but the news isn't all bad: the cancer mortality rate declined 1%, continuing the downward trend since the early 1990s, the Dallas Morning News reports. "As an aging population, we will see...

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