Mortality Rates for Middle-Aged Whites Higher than Expected

The Commonwealth Fund recently released a study on mortality rates of working-age white Americans. Here are some key findings from the report:

·         Death rates between 1999 and 2014 were expected to decline 1.8% per year.

·         2014 mortality rates were 60-76% higher than expected in southern states like Alabama and Arkansas.

·         Suicide and substance abuse account for 40% of the gap between expected and actual death rates.

·         60% of the gap was attributable to death rates failing to improve as expected for most causes of death.

·         Cancer was the exception for middle-aged whites, as deaths declined by 14% between 1999 and 2014.

·         The entire gap between expected/actual deaths for younger whites is caused by drug abuse and suicide.

Source: Commonwealth Fund, January 29, 2016