The world's leading causes of death
in 2011 were heart disease and stroke, according to a new study on global
health.
Researcher Alan Lopez, PhD, and
colleagues combed through thousands of data sources from all over the globe on
136 diseases and injuries in 2001.
Lopez works in Brisbane, Australia
at the University of Queensland's School of Population Health. He and his
colleagues published the results in The Lancet. Among their findings:
Slightly more than 56 million people
died in 2001. Those deaths included 10.6 million children, almost all of whom
(99%) lived in low-income and middle-income countries. More than half of the
children died from 5 preventable or treatable conditions:
- Respiratory infections
- Measles
- Diarrhea
- Malaria
- HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS in Africa and setbacks in
health for the former Soviet Union offset gains against other diseases. The
study shows that one in three deaths was due to communicable diseases,
nutritional deficiencies, and health problems in pregnant women, new mothers,
fetuses, or newborns.
Top 10
Causes of Death
Heart disease and stroke were the
leading causes of death in 2001, regardless of countries' incomes, the study
shows. However, other leading causes of death differed depending on countries'
incomes. Here is the list for high-income countries:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Lung cancer
- Lower respiratory infections
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD)
- Colon and rectum cancers
- Alzheimer's disease and other
dementias
- Type 2 diabetes
- Breast cancer
- Stomach cancer
Here is the list for low- and
middle-income countries:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Lower respiratory infections
- HIV/AIDS
- Fetus/newborn (perinatal)
conditions
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD)
- Diarrhea
- Tuberculosis
- Malaria
- Road traffic accidents
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