Rising morbidity and mortality in midlife among white non-Hispanic Americans in the 21st century

This paper documents a marked increase in the all-cause mortality of middle-aged white non-Hispanic men and women in the United States between 1999 and 2013. This change reversed decades of progress in mortality and was unique to the United States; no other rich country saw a similar turnaround. The midlife mortality reversal was confined to white non-Hispanics; black non-Hispanics and Hispanics at midlife, and those aged 65 and above in every racial and ethnic group, continued to see mortality rates fall. This increase for whites was largely accounted for by increasing death rates from drug and alcohol poisonings, suicide, and chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis. Although all education groups saw increases…

• MR
  Medical Research Council

  Award: MR/K025023/1
• NI
  National Institute on Aging

  Awards: P30 AG024361, P30 AG024928, P01 AG05842-14, P01AG05842, 5R01AG040629, 5R01AG040629-02