We had lost many years, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the life expectancy was cut short. In fact in 2021, COVID-19 was the leading cause of death. However, it seems to have recovered in the recent times, reports a new Lancet Study, conducted by the University of Washington School of Medicine's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). As per the new report, the numbers have returned to pre-pandemic levels after falling during the height of COVID-19. Humans are now living nearly two decades longer than they were in 1950. The research was based on the study of 204 countries and territories. However, the issue that scientists point out remain in the "emerging crisis" of rising death rates among the adolescent and young adults. As far as COVID-19 itself is concerned, it fell from the leading cause of death in 2021 to 20th place in 2023, with heart disease and stroke rising to again becoming the leading cause of death, worldwide. What Shifts Have Been Noticed?Across the world, deaths have shifted away from infectious diseases. Many experts have time and again said that now these viruses, while they continue to mutate, no longer pose a serious threat. In fact, deaths from measles, diarrhea, and tuberculosis have seen a decline, with noncommunicable diseases now accounting for about two-thirds of global mortality and morbidity. Experts say that while deaths from cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke have declined since the 1990s, cases of diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s have surged. “The world’s rapidly aging population and shifting risk factors have created a new wave of global health challenges,” said Dr. Christopher Murray, Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). “The findings of the Global Burden of Disease study serve as a wake-up call for governments and healthcare leaders to act quickly and strategically against these emerging threats to public health.”More Than Half Of These Diseases Are PreventableResearch tells us that more than half of these diseases are preventable. IHME in its study found that conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels and obesity are among the 10 risk factors that can have greatest effect and increase mortality rates. Between 2010 and 2023, there was an 11% higher burden of disease due to high body mass index and a 6% increase due to high blood sugar. However, most of these can be prevented. Other factors include environmental factors like pollution and lead exposure. This could also lead to issues in newborn health, low birthweight and short gestation. Why Do The Youth Have Shorter Life Expectancy?As per the research, deaths among people aged 20 to 39 in high-income North America have surged over the past decade. This has been driven by suicide, drug overdoses, and excessive alcohol use. Mortality among those aged 5 to 19 has also climbed in places like Eastern Europe, North America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa, where infectious diseases and accidental injuries remain major causes. “The world’s aging population and shifting risk factors have created a new wave of global health challenges,” said IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray. “The Global Burden of Disease study is a wake-up call for governments and healthcare leaders to act swiftly and strategically in addressing these alarming trends.”
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