U.S. Deaths Are Down and Life Expectancy Is Up, but Improvements Are Slowing

MedPage Today December 19, 2024
Associated Press

— Nearly a year added to estimated lifespan of Americans

U.S. life expectancy jumped last year, and preliminary data suggest there may be another — much smaller — improvement this year.

Death rates fell last year for almost all leading causes, notably COVID-19, heart disease, and drug overdoses, according to the CDC report released Thursday. That translated to adding nearly a year to the estimated lifespan of Americans.

Experts noted it’s part of a bounce-back from the COVID-19 pandemic. But life expectancy has not yet climbed back to prepandemic levels, and the rebound appears to be losing steam.

“What you’re seeing is continued improvement, but slowing improvement,” said Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, PhD, a University of Minnesota researcher who studies death trends....

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