DECEMBER JOUNRAL CLUB - Global causes of death over the last 30 years globally - a Lancet study

Global burden of 292 causes of death in 204 countries and territories and 660 subnational locations, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. Lancet. 2025 Oct 18;406(10513):1811-1872. 

 

This global analysis estimates cause-specific mortality for 292 causes across 204 countries (plus 660 subnational locations) from 1990–2023, adding two policy-useful metrics—probability of death before age 70 (70q0) and mean age at death. The study shows how much the world has changed in three decades: people are living longer, fewer children are dying, and many infectious diseases are now preventable. But it also warns that chronic illnesses, lifestyle factors, and inequality are now the biggest threats to health.

The authors call for stronger, more resilient health systems, ones that can handle both future pandemics and the rising tide of chronic disease, so that progress made in the last 30 years isn’t lost.

 

NB. Each episode is AI-generated using Google Notebook LM. The article(s) and sources are chosen by Drs. Susan Shelmerdine & Natasha Davendralingam based on quality of research, audience interest, and importance of the topic.