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U.S. Sees Rare Increase in Chronic Disease Deaths Among Working-Age Adults
10 Sep
Summary
- Death from chronic diseases increased among working-age Americans
- Progress in reducing chronic disease deaths has slowed in the U.S. since 2010
- Opioid epidemic may have blunted decline in chronic disease mortality

According to a recent global study, the progress in reducing deaths from chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes has slowed significantly in the United States over the past decade. In fact, the probability of dying from a chronic condition has increased among younger American adults between the ages of 20 and 45, which is highly unusual for a high-income country.
The study, published in The Lancet, shows that while chronic disease deaths have been declining in about 150 countries from 2010 to 2019, the pace of that decline has slowed or even reversed in some cases. In the U.S., the overall probability of dying from a chronic disease remained nearly flat over the 2010-2019 period, after seeing a marked drop in the previous decade.
Experts suggest that the opioid epidemic may have played a role in undermining the progress made in reducing chronic disease mortality in the U.S. Additionally, the rising prevalence of metabolic disorders like obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes is threatening to undo some of the gains achieved through public health and medical interventions.
While the overall decline in chronic disease deaths is undoubtedly positive news, the study highlights the need for more effective public health strategies to reach all segments of the population, especially in high-income countries like the United States.