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HHS study finds life expectancy in the U.S. rose to
77.2 years in 2001
March. 14, 2003
Annual Mortality Report Also Includes New Category For Terrorism Homicide
Americans' life expectancy hit an all-time high in 2001, while age-adjusted
deaths hit an all-time low, according to a new report released today by HHS
Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.
The report from HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
documents that the national age-adjusted death rate decreased slightly from
869 deaths per 100,000 population in 2000 to 855 deaths per 100,000 in 2001.
There were declines in mortality among most racial, ethnic and gender
groups.
Meanwhile, life expectancy hit a new high of 77.2 years in 2001, up from 77
in 2000, and increased for both men and women as well as whites and blacks.
For men, life expectancy increased from 74.3 years in 2000 to 74.4 years in
2001; for women, life expectancy increased from 79.7 years to 79.8 years.
Record high life expectancies were observed for white men and for both black
men and women.
"This report highlights some encouraging progress, including a continued
reduction in death rates from the nation's three leading killers -- heart
disease, cancer and stroke," Secretary Thompson said. "At the same time, it
reminds us that we need to do more to reduce the health disparities that
disproportionately affect certain racial and ethnic groups."
It includes a new sub-category for homicide -- deaths from terrorism -- that
was added as a result of the September 11 attacks. Although the overall U.S.
homicide rate increased nearly 17 percent between 2000 and 2001, the
increase is attributable entirely to the murders resulting from the
September 11 attacks on America. In fact, non-terrorism homicide rates
actually declined slightly between 2000 and 2001.
Among leading causes of death, there were declines in mortality from heart
disease (nearly 4 percent), cancer (2 percent), stroke (nearly 5 percent),
and accidents/unintentional injuries (nearly 2 percent). The biggest
decline in mortality among leading causes of death was for
influenza/pneumonia (more than 7 percent).
The age-adjusted death rate from HIV/AIDS declined nearly 4 percent between
2000 and 2001, a bigger decline than the year before and continuing a trend
that has occurred since 1995. Over this six-year period, mortality from HIV
has declined nearly 70 percent after increasing over 191 percent between
1987 and 1994.
However, HIV remains the 6th leading cause of death for people ages 25-44,
and a leading cause of death among African-Americans in this age group.
"People with HIV are living longer, no question about it, and that is
something we're very pleased about," said CDC Director Julie Gerberding.
"However, much remains unclear. What is the long-term efficacy of anti-AIDS
drugs, for example? Also, since new HIV infections continue to occur, we
must remain focused on HIV prevention and keep positive trends in
perspective."
The report shows that mortality increased for some leading causes of death,
including: kidney disease (3.7 percent), hypertension (3 percent) and
Alzheimer's disease (5 percent). In addition, the infant mortality rate
remained unchanged between 2000 and 2001, at 6.9 infant deaths per 1,000
live births.
The report "Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2001" was prepared by CDC's
National Center for Health Statistics based on the data recorded on more
than 97 percent of state death certificates issued in 2001. The full report
is available at www.cdc.gov/nchs.
Health and Human Services
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