mortality

(mor-tal′ĭt-ē)

To hear audio pronunciation of this topic, purchase a subscription or log in.

[mortal]

1. The condition of being mortal.
2. The number of deaths in a population. In the U.S. about 2,300,000 people die each year. The most common causes of death, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, are (in descending order) heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive lung disease, accidents, pneumonia and influenza, diabetes mellitus, suicide, kidney failure, cirrhosis, and other chronic liver diseases. The causes of death vary by age group: accidents are the most common cause of death among infants, children, adolescents, and young adults; cancers are the most common cause of death among people ages 45 to 64. Heart disease predominates after age 65. SEE TABLE: 10 Leading Causes of Death by Age Group, United States—2013
10 Leading Causes of Death by Age Group, United States—2013
Age Groups
Rank<11-45-910-1415-2425-3435-4445-5455-6465+Total
1Congenital Anomalies 4,758Unintentional Injury 1,316Unintentional Injury 746Unintentional Injury 775Unintentional Injury 11,619Unintentional Injury 16,209Unintentional Injury 15,354Malignant Neoplasms 46,185Malignant Neoplasms 113,324Heart Disease 488,156Heart Disease 611,105
2Short Gestation 4,202Congenital Anomalies 476Malignant Neoplasms 447Malignant Neoplasms 448Suicide 4,878Suicide 6,348Malignant Neoplasms 11,349Heart Disease 35,167Heart Disease 72,568Malignant Neoplasms 407,558Malignant Neoplasms 584,881
3Maternal Pregnancy Comp. 1,595Homicide 337Congenital Anomalies 179Suicide 386Homicide 4,329Homicide 4,236Heart Disease 10,341Unintentional Injury 20,357Unintentional Injury 17,057Chronic Low. Respiratory Disease 127,194Chronic Low. Respiratory Disease 149,205
4SIDS 1,563Malignant Neoplasms 328Homicide 125Congenital Anomalies 161Malignant Neoplasms 1,496Malignant Neoplasms 3,673Suicide 6,551Liver Disease 8,785Chronic Low. Respiratory Disease 15,942Cerebrovascular 109,602Unintentional Injury 130,557
5Unintentional Injury 1,156Heart Disease 169Chronic Low. Respiratory Disease 75Homicide 152Heart Disease 941Heart Disease 3,258Homicide 2,581Suicide 8,621Diabetes Mellitus 13,061Alzheimer's Disease 83,786Cerebrovascular 128,978
6Placenta Cord. Membranes 953Influenza & Pneumonia 102Heart Disease 73Heart Disease 100Congenital Anomalies 362Diabetes Mellitus 684Liver Disease 2,491Diabetes Mellitus 5,899Liver Disease 11,951Diabetes Mellitus 53,751Alzheimer's Disease 84,767
7Bacterial Sepsis 578Chronic Low. Respiratory Disease 64Influenza & Pneumonia 67Chronic Low Respiratory Disease 80Influenza & Pneumonia 197Liver Disease 676Diabetes Mellitus 1,952Cerebrovascular 5,425Cerebrovascular 11,364Influenza & Pneumonia 48,031Diabetes Mellitus 75,578
8Respiratory Distress 522Septicemia 53Cerebrovascular 41Influenza & Pneumonia 61Diabetes Mellitus 193HIV 631Cerebrovascular 1,687Chronic Low. Respiratory Disease 4,619Suicide 7,135Unintentional Injury 45,942Influenza & Pneumonia 56,979
9Circulatory System Disease 458Benign Neoplasms 47Septicemia 35Cerebrovascular 48Complicated Pregnancy 178Cerebrovascular 508HIV 1,246Septicemia 2,445Septicemia 5,345Nephritis 39,080Nephritis 47,112
10Neonatal Hemorrhage 389Perinatal Period 45Benign Neoplasms 34Benign Neoplasms 31Chronic Low. Respiratory Disease 155Influenza & Pneumonia 449Influenza & Pneumonia 881HIV 2,378Nephritis 4,947Septicemia 28,815Suicide 41,149

There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.