Article Summary:
While Covid-19 is now the 10th leading cause of death, it remains more severe than the flu, with higher hospitalization and mortality rates. Although the gap between the two diseases is narrowing, Covid-19 still poses significant health risks, necessitating continued vaccination efforts.
Main Points
- The CDC reported that as of 2023, Covid-19 is now the 10th leading cause of death, down from 4th in 2022.
- There was a nearly 70% decrease in deaths from Covid-19 from 2022 to 2023 (245,614 to 76,446).
- The gap between flu and Covid-19 is decreasing as hospital outcomes become more similar, with fewer patients requiring ICU admission and a reduced risk of death for hospitalized Covid-19 patients over time.
- Despite the decline, Covid-19 remains more severe than the flu, with a 35% higher risk of death for hospitalized patients.
- Vaccination rates for Covid-19 are lower than for flu, with only 1 in 4 U.S. adults receiving the updated Covid-19 vaccine.
- Low vaccination rates can be attributed to trust issues, vaccine fatigue, and access limitations.
- Continued vigilance and vaccination are essential to mitigate health impacts and economic costs.
Conclusions
While Covid-19’s severity is decreasing and its death ranking has improved, it remains more dangerous than the flu. This highlights the importance of continued vigilance and vaccination efforts to mitigate its impact, ensuring public health and safety as we navigate the ongoing challenges posed by respiratory viruses.
Source:
CITATION – Ahmad FB, Cisewski JA, Anderson RN. Mortality in the United States — Provisional Data, 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73:677–681. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7331a1.
