While global death rates have fallen by 67 per cent over the decades, mortality among young adults has stubbornly remained high, driven by suicide, drug overdose and excessive alcohol consumption, according to the latest ‘Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023’ study published in The Lancet.
The extensive research draws on data from more than 3,10,000 sources and over 14,000 experts worldwide, providing the most comprehensive assessment of mortality trends to date.
China recorded the highest absolute number of deaths in 2023 at 10.7 million, followed by India with 9.85 million and the United States with over three million. Adjusted for population size, India ranked 73rd in terms of death rate, whereas China and the US were placed at 166th and 160th, respectively.
India also tops the list of countries with the highest COVID-19 fatalities, reporting over three million deaths, followed by 1.21 million in the US and over one million in Russia.
The study highlights that nearly halhigh blood pressuref of all deaths and disabilities globally could be averted by tackling 88 known risk factors, including high blood pressure, air pollution, smoking and obesity.
Life expectancy has risen sharply since 1950. Pre-pandemic, women lived on average 76 years, while men reached over 71 years.
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“The rapid growth in the world's aging population and evolving risk factors have ushered in a new era of global health challenges,” said Dr Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, US, which coordinates the GBD study.
“The evidence presented in the Global Burden of Disease study is a wake-up call, urging government and health care leaders to respond swiftly and strategically to the disturbing trends that are reshaping public health needs,” he added.
While infectious diseases have been largely contained, non-communicable conditions such as diabetes, mental health disorders and obesity continue to surge, the researchers warned. They noted a shift in the leading causes of death from infectious to non-communicable diseases, posing fresh challenges, particularly in low-income nations.
Approximately half of the top ten causes of early death and disability worldwide are non-communicable, with diabetes, anxiety and depressive disorders among the fastest growing. COVID-19, the leading cause of death in 2021, fell to 20th place in 2023. Heart disease and stroke now top the global mortality chart, followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory infections, and neonatal disorders.
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