Introduction
Mortality is a rather concerning issue; however, its causes can help address certain patterns and issues. At times, it can be insightful to discover that people from the past have had similar statistics. Moreover, the differences between the past and present data could be rather informative as well. The following text will review and compare the leading causes of death in modern times with those from 1920.
Similar Causes of Death in Current and Historical Data
For writing this text, I have chosen the year 1920. The two similar causes of death that I noticed in 2021 and 1920 were cancer and heart disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2, 61). Meanwhile, there are two differences in mortality statistics over the two years. Premature birth is not listed as a leading cause of mortality in 2021, while Alzheimer’s is not listed as one of the essential causes of death in 1920.
Differences in Causes of Death Between Current and Historical Data
According to recent research, there is an indirect cause of the listed reasons for mortality in the US. During the pandemic, people feared COVID-19 infection, which could explain the statistics (Shiels et al.). Another possible cause is the misattribution of the coronavirus to other reasons. Accidental deaths and suicide are also quite impactful reasons for mortality in the country, and the pandemic could have contributed to them as well.
Reflections on Underlying Reasons for Current Causes of Death in the U.S.
From my point of view, the differences in major mortality causes in the years 2021 and 1920 were quite predictable. However, I did not expect there to be any similarities between the two lists. For example, as mentioned earlier, both mention cancer and heart disease as the major reasons for death in the country. This presents an interesting perspective on the past and the present, as well as the progress made in healthcare.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mortality is a rather concerning issue that demands thorough research. The two similar causes of death in 2021 and 1920 were cancer and heart disease. Meanwhile, Alzheimer’s and premature birth were not listed as primary reasons for mortality in 2021. The pandemic may have indirectly contributed to the statistics, triggering the fear of being infected. The differences between the two lists did not surprise me. However, the similarities did exist, and they demonstrate an interesting viewpoint on the two years.
Works Cited
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1. “Leading Causes of Death.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2022. Web.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2. “Leading Causes of Death, 1900-1998.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web.
Shiels, Meredith S., et al. “Leading Causes of Death in the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March 2020 to October 2021.” JAMA Internal Medicine, vol. 182, no. 8, 2022, p. 883. Web.