Murphy, SL; Xu, JQ; Kochanek, KD
Objectives—This report presents preliminary U.S. data on deaths, death rates, life expectancy, leading causes of death, and infant mortality for 2010 by selected characteristics such as age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin.
Methods—Data in this report are based on death records comprising more than 98 percent of the demographic and medical files for all deaths in the United States in 2010. The records are weighted to independent control counts for 2010. Comparisons are made with 2009 final data.
Results—The age-adjusted death rate decreased from 749.6 deaths per 100,000 population in 2009 to 746.2 deaths per 100,000 population in 2010. From 2009 to 2010, age-adjusted death rates decreased significantly for 7 of the 15 leading causes of death: Diseases of heart, Malignant neoplasms, Chronic lower respiratory diseases, Cerebrovascular diseases, Accidents (unintentional injuries), Influenza and pneumonia, and Septicemia. Assault (homicide) fell from among the top 15 leading causes of death in 2010, replaced by Pneumonitis due to solids and liquids as the 15th leading cause of death. The age-adjusted death rate increased for 5 leading causes of death: Alzheimer’s disease, Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis, Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, Parkinson's disease, and Pneumonitis due to solids and liquids. Life expectancy increased by 0.1 year from 78.6 in 2009 to 78.7 in 2010.
death rates, life expectancy, vital statistics, preliminary
