Deaths: Final Data for 2020
In 2020, a total of 3,383,729 deaths were reported in the United States. The age-adjusted death rate was 835.4 deaths per 100,000 U.S. standard population, an increase of 16.8% from the 2019 rate. Life expectancy at birth was 77.0 years, a decrease of 1.8 years from 2019. Age-specific death rates increased from 2019 to 2020 for age groups 15 years and over and decreased for age group under one year. Many of the 15 leading causes of death in 2020 changed from 2019. COVID-19, a new cause of death in 2020, became the third leading cause in 2020. The infant mortality rate decreased 2.9% to a historic low of 5.42 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2020. Conclusions: In 2020, the age-adjusted death rate increased and life expectancy at birth decreased for the total, male, and female populations, primarily due to the influence of deaths from COVID-19. These data appear in the September 22, 2023 issue of National Vital Statistics Reports.
Cause-Specific Mortality By County, Race, And Ethnicity In The U.S., 2000-19
Disparities in mortality among racial-ethnic groups are ubiquitous, occurring across locations in the U.S. and for a wide range of health conditions. According to an article in the September 23, 2023 issue of the journal Lancet, there is an urgent need to address the shared structural factors driving these widespread disparities. From 2000 to 2019, across 3,110 U.S. counties, racial-ethnic disparities in age-standardized mortality were noted for all causes of death considered. Mortality was substantially higher in the non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN) population (all-cause mortality 1028.2 [95% uncertainty interval 922.2-1142.3] per 100,000 population in 2019) and Black population (953.5 [947.5-958.8] per 100,000) than in the White population (802.5 [800.3-804.7] per 100,000), but substantially lower in the Asian population (442.3 [429.3-455·0] per 100, 000) and Latino population (595.6 [583.7-606.8] per 100 000). This pattern was found for most causes of death.
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY CORNER
An Overview Of The Effect Of Telehealth On Mortality: A Systematic Review Of Meta-Analyses
Implementation of telehealth services aims to augment health care positively so that patients receive the most appropriate treatment using the right method and technology, all within a timely manner. While it is not appropriate for all health care to be diverted to telehealth, a review in the October 2023 issue of the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare demonstrates that for the five disciplines included (cardiovascular, neurology, pulmonary, obstetrics and intensive care), telehealth interventions do not detrimentally affect the mortality rates for patients. Safety has to be considered according to specific clinical discipline, disease state, patient type, and application. As telehealth becomes integrated in mainstream health services, the same quality procedures should apply to monitor clinical effectiveness, user experience, and quality of care. The evidence from this review can be used by decision makers, in conjunction with other disease-specific and health economic literature, to formulate and guide telehealth implementation plans.
Multicellular Bioprinted Skin Facilitates Human-Like Skin Architecture In Vivo
Skin regeneration has long been studied with hopes of providing burn victims, wounded warriors, and those with skin disorders opportunities at complete healing. A research paper published on October 4, 2023 in Science Translational Medicine presents a significant breakthrough in the area of skin regeneration and wound healing by researchers at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Available grafts often are temporary, or if permanent, have only some elements of normal skin, which often have a scarred appearance. The creation of full thickness skin has not been possible to date. This study involved the bioprinting of all six major primary human cell types present in skin combined with specialized hydrogels as a bioink. Multi-layered full thickness skin was created which contained all three layers present in normal human tissue: epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The investigation shows the successful development of bioprinted skin that can accelerate wound healing and provide optimism for complete wound recovery.