In 2001, more than 56 million people died, including 10.6 million children, mostly living in low- and middle-income countries. Now research reveals the top ten causes of death worldwide in 2001. Globally, heart disease and stroke were the leading causes of death in 2001.
The study, published in The Lancet, examined mortality, disease incidence and prevalence for seven income/geographic country groups. Researchers from the University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Australia, analyzed data from global sources on 136 diseases and injuries in 2001.
The researchers' top ten causes of death worldwide include:
1. Heart Disease
2. Stroke
3. Newborn/fetus (perinatal) conditions
4. Lower respiratory infections
5. HIV/AIDS
6. Diarrhea
7. Unipolar major depression
8. Malaria
9. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
10. Tuberculosis.
The researchers found that there was a 20 percent decrease in deaths worldwide due to communicable diseases, nutritional deficiencies, and maternal and fetal problems between 1990 and 2001. However, deaths from HIV/AIDS and malaria increased in sub-Saharan Africa. The former Soviet Union also had setbacks in health. Globally, more than half of the children died from preventable or treatable conditions including respiratory infections, measles, diarrhea, malaria and HIV/AIDS.
"Despite uncertainties about mortality and burden of disease estimates, our findings suggest that substantial gains in health have been achieved in most populations, countered by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa and setbacks in adult mortality in countries of the former Soviet Union," the study authors write. "Our results on major disease, injury, and risk factor causes of loss of health, together with information on the cost-effectiveness of interventions, can assist in accelerating progress towards better health and reducing the persistent differentials in health between poor and rich countries."
REFERENCES:
1. Lopez AD et al. Global and regional burden of disease and risk factors, 2001: systematic analysis of population health data. Lancet 2006 May 27;367(9524):1747-57.
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on August 18, 2006 02:28 PM
