Comparing trends in mid-life 'deaths of despair' in the USA, Canada and UK, 2001-2019: is the USA an anomaly?

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

In recent years, 'deaths of despair' due to drugs, alcohol and suicide have contributed to rising mid-life mortality in the USA. We examine whether despair-related deaths and mid-life mortality trends are also changing in peer countries, the UK and Canada.

Design

Descriptive analysis of population mortality rates.

Setting

The USA, UK (and constituent nations England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland) and Canada, 2001-2019.

Participants

Full population aged 35-64 years.

Outcome measures

We compared all-cause and 'despair'-related mortality trends at mid-life across countries using publicly available mortality data, stratified by three age groups (35-44, 45-54 and 55-64 years) and by sex. We examined trends in all-cause mortality and mort

SUBMITTER: Dowd JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10441077 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature