Rise in Heart Disease and Diabetes Contributing to Increased Mortality Among Americans Without College Degrees

Recent research highlights a troubling rise in mortality rates among U.S. adults with less education, primarily driven by cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. In 2023, approximately 525,000 more deaths occurred than expected based on pre-2010 trends, with over 90% of these excess deaths happening among individuals lacking a bachelor's degree. The study, conducted collaboratively by Boston University School of Public Health, the University of Helsinki, and the University of Minnesota, underscores how social and structural factors linked to educational attainment impact health outcomes.

The findings reveal that for both men and women without a college degree, mortality rates spiked significantly between 2011 and 2023, especially in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the excess deaths, 481,211 were among those without a bachelor's degree, marking a 26% increase compared to previous trends, while the increase among those with a degree was only 8%. Cardiometabolic conditions, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes, are major contributors to these mortality increases. The study emphasizes the persistent influence of social determinants such as socioeconomic status, access to healthy foods, and working conditions, which all shape health risks.

The research also links unhealthy dietary habits, marketing of ultra-processed foods, and limited access to affordable nutritious options as factors aggravating the diabetes epidemic among less educated populations. Additionally, drug overdoses, especially among men without a college degree, contributed notably to excess deaths, reflecting ongoing issues with substance abuse and mental health crises.

Experts like Dr. Eugenio Paglino and Dr. Andrew Stokes point out that despite improvements in medical treatments, disparities rooted in education continue to widen health gaps. The study suggests that addressing these social inequalities through targeted public health policies could help mitigate the increasing mortality rates. Promising signs include reductions in cancer and external cause deaths among educated women, indicating some progress.

Overall, this research calls for urgent action to improve cardiometabolic health and address the social drivers of health disparities in the United States, aiming to reduce preventable deaths among vulnerable populations.