Stroke Is Fifth Leading Cause of Death in United States

December 30, 2014—The American Heart Association announced that the new federal report “Mortality in the United States, 2013” shows that stroke has dropped from fourth to fifth place among the leading causes of death in the United States. This is the second time since 2011 that stroke has dropped a spot in the mortality rankings. Using National Vital Statistics System data, the report from the US Centers for Disease Control indicated that death by stroke fell below death by unintentional injuries, which killed 1,579 more people than stroke in 2013. However, despite the lower death rate, the report found that 432 more people died from stroke in 2013 than in 2012.

The report showed that the stroke death rate dropped slightly, from 36.9% in 2012 to 36.2% in 2013. While the death rate from heart disease dropped somewhat between 2012 and 2013, it remains the leading cause of death in the nation. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death, followed by chronic lower respiratory diseases.

In the society’s announcement, AHA Past President Ralph Sacco, MD, noted that the decline in stroke deaths may be due in part to improvements in treatment and prevention. He commented, “There are more stroke centers now operating in the United States, and the acute care of stroke is improving. However, although mortality from stroke is dropping, we know that the number of people having strokes in the United States is rising each year due to the aging of our population and other signs that strokes have increased in younger groups.” Dr. Sacco, who in 2010 became the first neurologist to be named AHA president, is chairman of neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida.

The AHA statement advised that stroke remains a leading cause of disability in the United States and that the number of people having strokes—often with painful and debilitating aftereffects—remains a major cause of concern. Dr. Sacco observed, “Stroke is more disabling than it is fatal.”

Current AHA President Elliott Antman, MD, added, “The fact that the death rate is declining from this terrible and devastating disease is gratifying news. These statistics are a tribute to the many courageous survivors, health care professionals, researchers, volunteers, and everyone else committed to fighting stroke. Still, far too many people are still dying from stroke, and too many people are suffering greatly from this disease.” Dr. Antman is a professor of medicine and associate dean for clinical/translational research at Harvard Medical School and a senior physician in the Cardiovascular Division of the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.