Report Finds Life Expectancy Up, Death Rate Down

ATLANTA–Americans are living longer and the annual death rate
is declining, a recent report indicates.

Preliminary data for 2004 from the National Center for Health
Statistics shows that the death rate in the U.S. dropped by nearly
50,000 to 2,398,343, or 2 percent from 2003. Average life
expectancy, meanwhile, has reached 77.9 years, a record high.

In 2004, heart disease continued to be the leading cause of
death. But the report said long-term decreasing trends for the
three leading causes of death–heart disease, cancer and
stroke–are continuing. There were increases for hypertension and
Alzheimer’s disease.

For 10 of the 15 leading causes of death, the age-adjusted death
rate declined considerably. Overall, it fell to a record low of 801
deaths per 100,000 population in 2004.

To view the report,
click here.