Leading Causes of Death for 78-Year-Olds

Leading Causes of Death for 78-Year-Olds (2021 CDC Data)

According to the latest data from the CDC, the leading causes of death for 78-year-olds are heart disease, cancer, and COVID-19. Heart disease takes the top spot by a significant margin, with over 24,000 deaths per year. Cancer is a close second, claiming over 19,000 lives annually.

COVID-19 has emerged as a major cause of mortality in recent years and ranks third on the list for 78-year-olds, with over 10,900 deaths in 2021. Chronic lower respiratory disease, such as COPD and emphysema, also contributes to a significant number of deaths among this age group, with over 5,300 deaths in 2021.

Other common causes of death for 78-year-olds include Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and accidents (including overdoses), each accounting for several thousand deaths per year. Parkinson’s disease, kidney disease, and septicemia are also prevalent among this age group.

It’s interesting to note that flu (non-COVID) and liver disease have lower death rates compared to some of the other causes on this list. Additionally, some less-common causes of death are present, such as hernia and congenital malformations, which contribute to a small number of deaths each year.

Overall, this data highlights the importance of preventative measures and early detection for the leading causes of death among older adults. While some causes may be unavoidable, such as congenital malformations, early intervention and healthy lifestyle choices can help mitigate the impact of many of these causes.

Top Causes of Death for Age 78 Men

For 78-year-old men, the leading causes of death are heart disease, cancer, and COVID-19. Heart disease is the top cause of death, accounting for over 13,000 deaths annually, followed by cancer with over 10,000 deaths. COVID-19 is the third highest cause of death for this age group with over 6,200 deaths in 2021.

Chronic lower respiratory disease, diabetes, accidents (including overdoses), Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, kidney disease, and flu (non-COVID) are other major causes of mortality among 78-year-old men. Septicemia, liver disease (including cirrhosis), and suicide also contribute to a significant number of deaths among this demographic.

Notably, Parkinson’s disease, kidney disease, and flu (non-COVID) are responsible for more deaths in men than women of the same age group. Although the ranking may differ slightly between genders, the leading causes of death are consistent.

Overall, this data provides a comprehensive overview of the leading causes of death among 78-year-old men, highlighting the importance of early detection and preventive measures against these illnesses.

Common Causes of Death for 78-Year-Old Women

Looking at the data for 78-year-old women, the top five leading causes of death are heart disease, cancer, COVID-19, chronic lower respiratory disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Heart disease has the highest number of deaths at 10,853, followed closely by cancer with 8,781 deaths. COVID-19 is also a significant factor, with 4,675 deaths among this age group.

Chronic lower respiratory disease and Alzheimer’s disease contribute to a substantial number of deaths among 78-year-old women, with 2,748 and 2,016 deaths, respectively. Diabetes, accidents (including overdoses), kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease, septicemia, and flu (non-COVID) also appear on the list of leading causes of death for this age group.

Other causes of death for this group include liver disease (including cirrhosis), nutritional deficiency, pneumonitis due to solids and liquids, enterocolitis, anemias, peptic ulcer, gallbladder disorder, suicide, hernia, and congenital malformations.

Overall, heart disease and cancer continue to be the leading causes of death for 78-year-old women, followed by COVID-19 and several chronic illnesses. It’s essential to prioritize prevention and early detection for these leading causes of death to improve the health outcomes of older women.