The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report showing that Covid deaths in the U.S. fell by 69% from 2022 to 2023, making it the 10th leading cause of death last year, down from 4th place in 2022. Covid was the underlying or contributing cause of more than 76,000 deaths in 2023, representing around 1.6% of the total deaths in the country, a significant decrease from the previous year. Deaths from Covid decreased across all age groups and racial and ethnic groups, with those aged 85 and older still representing a larger share.
While American Indian and Alaska Native people had the highest rate of Covid deaths during the pandemic, white people had the highest rate last year. The CDC noted that the number of Covid deaths is still substantial and the virus remains a threat, especially to older adults and those with underlying medical conditions. However, the likelihood of severe illness has decreased due to widespread immunity from vaccines and prior infections, as well as the availability of antiviral medication like Paxlovid.
Heart disease remained the leading cause of death in the U.S., followed by cancer and unintentional injuries. While heart disease deaths decreased in 2023, cancer deaths increased, with certain types of cancer on the rise. The CDC researchers suggested that the pandemic may still be impacting other leading causes of death, such as drug overdose and alcohol-related diseases, leading to increases in unintentional injuries and chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. The CDC recommends that most people get updated Covid vaccines when available to maintain immunity as it wanes.
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