Humans are living 20 years longer than in 1950according to new research that analyzed 204 countries and territories, all of which have reported drops in their death rates since then. However, huge inequalities persist, and there is a “emerging crisis” of rising death rates among teenagers and young adults.
In 2023, life expectancy was 76.3 years for women and 71.5 years for men, according to analyzes published on Sunday by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington – returning to pre-pandemic levels after
Covid-19 has fallen from the leading cause of death in 2021 to 20th place in 2023, with heart disease and stroke once again being the leading causes of death globally.
Deaths around the world have generally moved away from infectious diseases, with sharp drops in deaths from measles, diarrheal diseases and tuberculosis, according to IHME.
Noncommunicable diseases now account for about two-thirds of global mortality and morbidity, including both deaths and the broader burden of disease. Although death rates for heart disease and stroke have declined since 1990, rates have increased for diabetes, chronic kidney disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
“The rapid growth of the world’s elderly population and evolving risk factors have ushered in a new era of challenges for global health,” said IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray. “The evidence presented in the Global Burden of Disease study is a wake-up call, urging government and health leaders to respond quickly and strategically to troubling trends that are reshaping public health needs.”
About half of the global burden of disease is preventable, according to new research, and is attributable to dozens of modifiable risk factors.
High blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity are among the 10 risk factors with the greatest impact, IHME found.
Between 2010 and 2023, there was an 11% increase in the burden of disease due to high body mass index – measured by the years of life lost to disability or premature death – and a 6% increase due to high blood sugar.
Environmental factors such as particulate matter pollution and lead exposure were also among the most significant risk factors, along with those related to newborn health, including low birth weight and short gestation.
Furthermore, according to new research, with a significant increase in the burden of anxiety and depression.
Although the global population is growing and aging, mortality rates among children and young adults have increased in some parts of the world.
Among teens and young adults, the biggest increase in deaths over the past decade has occurred in the 20- to 39-year-old age group in high-income North America, primarily due to suicide, drug overdoses and binge drinking, according to IHME research.
Deaths among people aged 5 to 19 also increased in Eastern Europe, high-income North America and the Caribbean, and among teenagers and young adults in sub-Saharan Africa, due to infectious diseases and unintentional injuries.
Globally, for children aged 5 to 14 years, iron deficiency was the main risk factor, followed by others related to unsafe water, sanitation, hygiene and malnutrition. For the 15 to 49 age group, the top two risks were unsafe sex and occupational injuries, followed by high BMI, high systolic blood pressure and smoking.
Overall, life expectancy ranged from 83 years in high-income regions to 62 years in sub-Saharan Africa, according to IHME.
This new research highlights an “urgent need for policymakers to expand health priorities,” IHME researchers said — especially among teens and young adults — rather than limiting resources.
“Decades of work to reduce disparity in low-income regions with persistent health inequalities are at risk of unraveling due to recent cuts in international aid,” said Emmanuela Gakidou, senior author of the new studies and professor at IHME. “These countries depend on global funding for primary health care, medicines and vaccines. Without this, the disparity will certainly increase.”
