Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States was already experiencing rising mortality rates, which worsened during the pandemic, peaking in 2021, and remained high even in 2023.

The research calls for addressing the underlying social inequalities that contribute to health disparities, emphasizing the role of education in improving health outcomes and longevity.

The study revealed a stark disparity in health outcomes linked to education, showing a 26% increase in mortality among those without a BA from 2011 to 2023, compared to an 8% increase for those with a BA.

Dr. Elizabeth Wrigley-Field stated that maintaining past health progress could have prevented many of the excess deaths, emphasizing the link between education and access to healthier work environments.

Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones noted that cardiovascular diseases remain leading causes of death in the US, influenced heavily by social factors like education and socioeconomic status.

Study lead author Dr. Eugenio Paglino emphasized the need to examine long-term mortality trends beyond the pandemic to understand the underlying causes of increasing excess deaths.

Despite a decline in COVID-19 fatalities, the ongoing excess deaths in 2023 emphasize the need to examine long-term mortality trends to understand current health challenges.

A recent study conducted by Boston University School of Public Health, the University of Helsinki, and the University of Minnesota analyzed national mortality data from over 47 million deaths among adults aged 35 and older from 2006 to 2023, categorizing the data into pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods.

In 2023, approximately 525,000 excess deaths occurred among US adults compared to expected mortality trends, with over 90% of these deaths among individuals without a Bachelor's degree, primarily due to cardiovascular diseases.

The study found that drug overdoses significantly contributed to excess deaths among men without a BA, reflecting broader issues of substance abuse and health disparities.

Researchers identified diabetes as a top contributor to excess deaths, particularly among individuals without a BA, attributed to increased consumption of unhealthy foods and limited access to nutritious options.

Dr. Andrew Stokes, the study's senior author, highlighted that social determinants such as education, rural living, and access to healthy food play a critical role in health outcomes, with less educated individuals facing more health challenges.