Mortality in the US, 2015

The age-adjusted death rate in the United States rose 1.2% and the life expectancy decreased by 0.1 year in 2015, according to the National Center for Health Statistics report issued December 8, 2016.  The infant mortality rate was unsignificantly changed from 2014 at 589.5 infant deaths per 100,000 live births (just over 0.5%) versus 2014’s 582.1 deaths per 100,000; again, that was insignificant, but an increase of 7.4 deaths per 100,000.  There was a significant increase of 11.3% in infant deaths from unintentional injuries (accidents.)

This was the first time since 1999 that the death rate increased significantly.  Incidentally, the age-adjusted death rates for black males were more than twice the rates for Hispanic females.  The life expectancy at age 65 was 19.4 years, unchanged from 2014.  The five leading causes of death were heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases (“emphysema”), unintentional injuries (“accidents”), and stroke.  Suicide, the tenth cause of death, increased from 13.0 per 100,000 to 13.3.