Rising Excess Mortality in the US Post-Pandemic: A Persistent Public Health Challenge

Recent research from Boston University School of Public Health highlights a troubling trend: excess deaths in the United States continue to increase even after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study examines the number of 'missing Americans'—deaths that could have been prevented if US mortality rates aligned with those of other high-income countries. In 2022 and 2023, over 1.5 million lives were lost that might have been spared, emphasizing a deep-rooted health crisis that predates the pandemic. While the pandemic caused a temporary surge in excess deaths, the underlying issues have persisted for decades, contributing to nearly 14.7 million excess deaths since 1980.

The research detailed that excess deaths are disproportionately impacting working-age adults; nearly half of all deaths under 65 could have been avoided with comparable mortality rates. This systemic problem reflects failure in addressing chronic health issues such as drug overdoses, gun violence, and preventable cardiometabolic diseases, which have been exacerbated by social and policy neglect.

The study compares US mortality trends with 21 other high-income nations, revealing that long-standing disparities continue to widen despite health advances elsewhere. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified these disparities, particularly in 2020 and 2021, but the underlying crisis has been unfolding for decades. Experts warn that current policies, including reductions in public health funding and social safety nets, threaten to deepen these gaps further.

Addressing this crisis requires comprehensive policy reforms and investments in universal healthcare and social supports, showing other wealthy nations how to improve longevity and health outcomes. Without such changes, preventable deaths and health inequities in the US are expected to persist or worsen, underscoring the urgent need for systemic reform.