Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, life expectancy in the United States rose until it plateaued and remained in the 78-year range from 2010-2018.[27] Medical knowledge and health care innovations have helped Americans live longer and enjoy higher quality of life. In recent years, however, life expectancy has not increased at its previous rate and has experienced some downticks; this trend may result from “an increase in mortality from specific causes (e.g., drug overdoses, suicides, organ system diseases) among young and middle-aged adults of all racial groups.”[28]
Increasing lifespans may now depend more on individual factors like educational attainment. Even controlling for income, more educated individuals tend to have better health care access and healthier lifestyles. Researchers suggest educated individuals may also be better advocates and managers of their health care and more likely to use preventative care and higher-quality treatment options.[29]
In 2019, the leading causes of death in Michigan were heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases and accidental deaths.[30] Accidental deaths include causes like car accidents, some drug overdoses and accidental falls. In 2021, the causes and order remained the same, except that Covid-19 supplanted lower respiratory illnesses, which moved down to sixth that year.[31] The table below shows the death rate in Michigan and across the United States from 1980 to 2021.
Graphic 2: Age-adjusted death rates in the United States and Michigan, 1980-2021 (per 100,000 people)