Health

Life expectancy longer than ever, infant deaths increase

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 1, 2004

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Americans are living longer than ever before, but infant mortality increased for the first time since 1958, according to Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2002 published last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.

Infant mortality hit seven per 1,000 live births in 2002, an increase from 6.8 in 2001. Life expectancy increased from 77.2 years to 77.4 for the general population and increased for nearly all subgroups.

The increase in infant deaths was blamed primarily on an increase in congenital anomalies; incidents of low birth weight and preterm birth; and maternal complications.

The increase in longevity was accounted for by declines in heart disease, stroke, accidents, homicide and cancer. They were in part balanced out, however, by increases in deaths related to Alzheimer's, influenza, pneumonia, hypertension and blood poisoning.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/03/01/hlbf0301.htm.

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