Avoidable Deaths on the Rise in the United States: A Troubling Trend
When a person passes away, medical professionals often analyze the cause of death to determine if it could have been prevented through medical interventions such as vaccines or treatments like antibiotics. These types of deaths, known as avoidable mortalities, have been decreasing in most high-income countries worldwide. However, a recent study by researchers at the Brown University School of Public Health and Harvard University has revealed a concerning trend – avoidable deaths are on the rise in the United States.
Published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the study compared mortality trends across U.S. states and 40 high-income countries, including members of the European Union and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The findings showed that between 2009 and 2021, avoidable mortality in the U.S. continued to worsen, while other countries showed improvement, except during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lead study author, Irene Papanicolas, a professor at Brown’s School of Public Health, highlighted that the U.S. is on a different trajectory compared to other high-income countries. While other nations are making strides in reducing avoidable deaths through prevention and treatment, the U.S. is experiencing an increase in such deaths.
The researchers found that on average, avoidable mortality increased by 32.5 deaths per 100,000 people across the U.S. states. In contrast, European Union countries saw a decrease of 25.2 avoidable deaths per 100,000 people, and OECD countries saw a decrease of 22.8 avoidable deaths per 100,000 people.
The study revealed that various causes of avoidable deaths, including road accidents, vaccine-preventable illnesses, and treatable conditions like sepsis and appendicitis, are on the rise in every U.S. state. This trend is alarming, as it indicates deep-seated issues within the American healthcare system and public policy.
Despite the U.S. spending more on healthcare per capita than any other country in the analysis, there was no clear association between health expenditures and avoidable mortality. In contrast, other high-income countries demonstrated a correlation between higher health spending and better outcomes in terms of avoidable mortality.
The researchers emphasized the urgent need for policymakers to address this growing mortality gap in the U.S. Moving forward, the team plans to explore strategies that other countries are implementing to reduce avoidable deaths and how the U.S. can adopt similar approaches.
In conclusion, the study sheds light on a troubling trend of increasing avoidable deaths in the United States. By identifying key areas for improvement and learning from successful strategies in other countries, there is hope for reversing this concerning trajectory and improving public health outcomes in the U.S.