Leading Causes of Death for 60-Year-Olds (2021 CDC Data)
| Cause of Death | Total Deaths |
|---|---|
| Heart Disease | 11,870 |
| Cancer | 11,236 |
| COVID-19 | 7,634 |
| Accidents (Incl. Overdoses) | 3,478 |
| Diabetes | 1,910 |
| Liver Disease (incl. Cirrhosis) | 1,875 |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease | 1,853 |
| Suicide | 749 |
| Septicemia | 711 |
| Kidney Disease | 633 |
| Flu (Non-COVID) | 466 |
| Homicide | 204 |
| Pneumonitis Due To Solids & Liquids | 197 |
| HIV | 160 |
| Congenital Malformations | 155 |
| Viral Hepatitis | 132 |
| Alzheimer's Disease | 119 |
| Nutritional Deficiency | 105 |
| Parkinson's Disease | 86 |
| Anemias | 55 |
| Peptic Ulcer | 46 |
| Enterocolitis | 28 |
| Gallbladder Disorder | 25 |
According to the 2021 CDC data, heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death for 60-year-olds. They account for almost the same number of deaths, with heart disease being slightly more common. COVID-19 is the third leading cause of death, with over 7,000 deaths reported in this age group.
Accidents, including overdoses, diabetes, and liver disease, are also listed as leading causes of death for 60-year-olds. Chronic lower respiratory disease, suicide, septicemia, and kidney disease round out the top 10.
It’s interesting to note that flu (non-COVID), homicide, and pneumonitis due to solids and liquids are among the leading causes of death, although at much lower numbers than the top 10. HIV, congenital malformations, viral hepatitis, and Alzheimer’s disease are also listed, indicating the diversity of causes of death for this age group.
While this data is quantitative in nature, it’s important to remember that each number represents a person who has passed away. It’s a sobering reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of taking care of our health.
Top Causes of Death for Age 60 Men
| Cause of Death | Total Deaths |
|---|---|
| Heart Disease | 8,132 |
| Cancer | 6,008 |
| COVID-19 | 4,702 |
| Accidents (Incl. Overdoses) | 2,510 |
| Liver Disease (incl. Cirrhosis) | 1,232 |
| Diabetes | 1,204 |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease | 904 |
| Suicide | 573 |
| Kidney Disease | 392 |
| Septicemia | 372 |
| Flu (Non-COVID) | 290 |
| Homicide | 155 |
| Pneumonitis Due To Solids & Liquids | 131 |
| HIV | 126 |
| Congenital Malformations | 88 |
| Viral Hepatitis | 86 |
| Nutritional Deficiency | 58 |
| Parkinson's Disease | 56 |
| Alzheimer's Disease | 49 |
| Peptic Ulcer | 46 |
| Enterocolitis | 28 |
| Anemias | 26 |
| Gallbladder Disorder | 25 |
Looking at the mortality data for men aged 60 and above, heart disease and cancer continue to be the top or most frequent causes of death. These top two leading causes are followed by COVID-19, accidents, liver disease, and diabetes. Chronic lower respiratory disease, suicide, kidney disease, septicemia, flu (non-COVID), homicide, and pneumonitis due to solids and liquids are still included in the top 20 causes of death, though the ranking and numbers differ compared to overall mortality data.
It’s also important to note that HIV, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, nutritional deficiency, peptic ulcer, enterocolitis, anemias, congenital malformations, and gallbladder disorder still appear on the list, albeit with lower numbers. Overall, it is evident that heart disease and cancer are still the leading causes of death for men aged 60 and over, with COVID-19 being the third most common cause. Accidents, liver disease, and diabetes are the other leading causes contributing to mortality in this age group.
Common Causes of Death for 60-Year-Old Women
| Cause of Death | Total Deaths |
|---|---|
| Cancer | 5,228 |
| Heart Disease | 3,738 |
| COVID-19 | 2,932 |
| Accidents (Incl. Overdoses) | 968 |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease | 949 |
| Diabetes | 706 |
| Liver Disease (incl. Cirrhosis) | 643 |
| Septicemia | 339 |
| Kidney Disease | 241 |
| Flu (Non-COVID) | 176 |
| Suicide | 176 |
| Alzheimer's Disease | 70 |
| Congenital Malformations | 67 |
| Pneumonitis Due To Solids & Liquids | 66 |
| Homicide | 49 |
| Nutritional Deficiency | 47 |
| Viral Hepatitis | 46 |
| HIV | 34 |
| Parkinson's Disease | 30 |
| Anemias | 29 |
When looking at the mortality data for 60-year-old women, cancer is once again the leading cause of death, followed by heart disease and COVID-19. Other leading causes of death for women in this age group include chronic lower respiratory disease, accidents (including overdoses), diabetes, and liver disease.
It’s important to note that some causes of death are sex-specific, with women being more likely to die from septicemia and Alzheimer’s disease, for example. Homicide is also listed as a leading cause of death for women in this age group, although at a much lower number than other causes such as cancer and heart disease.
Overall, the data shows that the leading causes of death for 60-year-old women are similar to those for the overall population of this age group, with cancer and heart disease being the two most common causes of mortality.
