Leading Causes of Death
The leading causes of death globally can be categorized into three broad topics: cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and neonatal conditions.
1. Cardiovascular Diseases: These are the world’s biggest killers, responsible for 16% of the world’s total deaths. The most common cardiovascular diseases include ischemic heart disease and stroke.
2. Respiratory Diseases: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lower respiratory infections are among the top causes of death globally. They account for approximately 11% and 6% of total deaths respectively.
3. Neonatal Conditions: These include birth asphyxia and birth trauma, neonatal sepsis and infections, and preterm birth complications. Neonatal conditions are ranked 5th among the leading causes of death.
Other leading causes of death include:
– Cancer (Malignant Neoplasms): Cancer is a leading cause of death, with deaths from trachea, bronchus, and lung cancers rising from 1.2 million to 1.8 million.
– Alzheimers Disease and Other Forms of Dementia: These conditions ranked as the 7th leading cause of death in 2019, with women disproportionately affected.
– Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetes has entered the top 10 causes of death, following a significant percentage increase of 70% since 2000.
– HIV/AIDS: Deaths from HIV/AIDS have fallen by 51% during the last 20 years, moving from the worlds 8th leading cause of death in 2000 to the 19th in 2019.
It’s important to note that these causes of death can vary significantly by region and over time. For instance, in Canada, the leading causes of death in recent years have been malignant neoplasms (cancer) and heart diseases.
Understanding the leading causes of death is crucial for global health organizations to target interventions and preventative measures effectively. It also helps individuals make informed decisions about lifestyle and health care.
