OBJECTIVES: To assess years of life lost to each cause of death in the United States between 1995 and 2015, and compare it with the number of deaths. METHODS: We used Vital Statistics mortality data and defined "life-years lost" as remaining life expectancy for each decedent's age, sex, and race. We calculated the share of life-years lost to each cause of death in each year, and examined reasons for changes. RESULTS: In 2015, heart disease caused the most deaths, but cancer caused 23% more life-years lost. Life-years lost to heart disease declined 6% since 1995, whereas life-years lost to cancer increased 16%. The increase for cancer was entirely attributable to population growth and longer life expectancy; had these factors remained constant, life-years lost to heart disease and cancer would have fallen 56% and 38%, respectively. Accidents (including overdoses), suicides, and homicides each caused twice the share of life-years lost as deaths. Measuring life-years lost highlighted racial disparities in heart disease, homicides, and perinatal conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Life-years lost may provide additional context for understanding long-term mortality trends.
OBJECTIVES: To assess years of life lost to each cause of death in the United States between 1995 and 2015, and compare it with the number of deaths. METHODS: We used Vital Statistics mortality data and defined "life-years lost" as remaining life expectancy for each decedent's age, sex, and race. We calculated the share of life-years lost to each cause of death in each year, and examined reasons for changes. RESULTS: In 2015, heart disease caused the most deaths, but cancer caused 23% more life-years lost. Life-years lost to heart disease declined 6% since 1995, whereas life-years lost to cancer increased 16%. The increase for cancer was entirely attributable to population growth and longer life expectancy; had these factors remained constant, life-years lost to heart disease and cancer would have fallen 56% and 38%, respectively. Accidents (including overdoses), suicides, and homicides each caused twice the share of life-years lost as deaths. Measuring life-years lost highlighted racial disparities in heart disease, homicides, and perinatal conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Life-years lost may provide additional context for understanding long-term mortality trends.
Authors: Alexis B Peterson; R Matthew Gladden; Chris Delcher; Erica Spies; Amanda Garcia-Williams; Yanning Wang; John Halpin; Jon Zibbell; Carolyn Lullo McCarty; Jolene DeFiore-Hyrmer; Mary DiOrio; Bruce A Goldberger Journal: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Date: 2016-08-26 Impact factor: 17.586
Authors: Glen B Taksler; Elisabeth F P Peterse; Isarah Willems; Kevin Ten Haaf; Erik E L Jansen; Inge M C M de Kok; Nicolien T van Ravesteyn; Harry J de Koning; Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar Journal: JAMA Oncol Date: 2021-06-01 Impact factor: 31.777
Authors: Karim ReFaey; Shashwat Tripathi; Sanjeet S Grewal; Adip G Bhargav; David J Quinones; Kaisorn L Chaichana; Samuel O Antwi; Leslie T Cooper; Fredric B Meyer; Roxana S Dronca; Robert B Diasio; Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa Journal: Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes Date: 2021-06-08
Authors: Alexander F Bagley; Mitchell S Anscher; Seungtaek Choi; Steven J Frank; Karen E Hoffman; Deborah A Kuban; Sean E McGuire; Quynh-Nhu Nguyen; Brian Chapin; Ana Aparicio; Todd A Pezzi; Grace L Smith; Benjamin D Smith; Kenneth Hess; Chad Tang Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2020-03-02