Major Health Threats Claiming Lives in America
In the year 2021, the leading causes of death in the United States remained consistent with previous years, with heart disease and cancer topping the list. According to the latest data available, heart disease was the leading cause of death, followed closely by cancer, and stroke.
Heart disease accounted for a significant number of deaths, with coronary heart disease being the main contributor (371,506 deaths) and stroke causing 165,393 deaths in 2021[1]. Cancer was the second leading cause of death, with lung and bronchus cancer being the deadliest form for both men and women[3].
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on death rates in 2021, becoming one of the leading causes of death during the pandemic years. In 2020, COVID-19 was the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., behind heart disease and cancer[2]. The pandemic led to a historic decline in U.S. life expectancy by about three years from 2019 to 2020, reflecting the high mortality burden. By late 2021, COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. surpassed 700,000, making it the deadliest respiratory pandemic in recent American history, above even the 1918 Spanish flu[2].
The pandemic exacerbated existing mortality trends, with excess deaths peaking in 2021. Although COVID-19 mortality started to decline in 2023, excess deaths remained significantly higher than before the pandemic, driven largely by chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes[5]. The pandemic disproportionately affected individuals with lower educational attainment, highlighting social and structural health disparities[5].
Other chronic diseases, such as chronic liver disease, kidney disease, and chronic lower respiratory disease, also contributed to excess deaths in 2021. Chronic liver disease, which can lead to cirrhosis and has a significant mortality risk, accounted for 1.6% of total deaths in 2021[4]. Kidney disease, which causes kidney damage and may lead to other health problems, accounted for 1.5% of total deaths in 2021[4]. Chronic lower respiratory disease was the sixth leading cause of death, accounting for 4.1% of all deaths[6].
Suicide is a significant cause of death, particularly among people aged 10-34 years, and accounted for 1.4% of total deaths in 2018 (the latest data provided)[7]. Alzheimer's disease, a dementia that impairs a person's ability to perform essential actions such as walking and swallowing, accounted for 3.4% of total deaths in 2021[4].
In summary, the leading causes of death in the United States for 2021 remained largely consistent with prior years, with heart disease as the top cause, followed by cancer and stroke. COVID-19 had a significant impact on death rates, becoming a leading cause of death, and contributing to higher overall death rates compared to previous years.
| Cause of Death | Notes for 2021 | |--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | Heart Disease | Leading cause; coronary heart disease major factor (371,506 deaths) | | Cancer | Second leading cause; lung and bronchus cancer most deadly | | Stroke | Third leading cardiovascular contributor (165,393 deaths) | | COVID-19 | Became a leading cause of death, with over 700,000 deaths by late 2021; caused significant excess mortality and a historic life expectancy drop | | Other chronic diseases | Rise in diabetes and chronic kidney disease also contributed to excess deaths |
References: [1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Leading causes of death. Retrieved from
- In addition to heart disease and cancer, stroke also ranked high among the leading causes of death in the United States in 2021.
- COVID-19, a respiratory condition, emerged as one of the leading causes of death in 2021, with over 700,000 deaths reported by late 2021.
- Diabetes Mellitus, a chronic disease, was a significant contributor to excess deaths in 2021.
- Chronic Kidney Disease, another chronic illness, accounted for 1.5% of total deaths in 2021.
- Lung and bronchus cancer, a type of NSCLC (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer), was the deadliest form of cancer in 2021.
- Other heart diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, played a major role in the total deaths in 2021.
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), a respiratory condition, was the sixth leading cause of death in 2021.
- Other heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease, were major factors in the high number of heart disease deaths in 2021.
- Diseases like Sclerosis and multiple sclerosis were not among the leading causes of death in 2021.
- Hepatitis, a digestive health issue, was not a significant contributor to deaths in 2021, but chronic liver disease was.
- Eye-health conditions and hearing impairments were not among the top causes of death in 2021.
- Skin conditions, autoimmune disorders, or mental health issues like depression and anxiety do not typically rank high among the leading causes of death in the United States.
- Science and medical advancements continue to work towards predicting and managing chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke.
- CBD (Cannabidiol), a compound found in the cannabis plant, is not a cause of death but is often used to manage chronic pain and other health issues.
- Alzheimer's, a degenerative brain disease, accounted for 3.4% of total deaths in 2021.
- Other-heart-disease, other-chronic-diseases, and other respiratory-conditions are broad categories that encompass various health conditions that are not individually listed as leading causes of death in 2021.
