cause of death

Cause of death is the series of events leading to the injury or disease that triggers an individual's fatal end. See: WHO

The cause of death is relevant in mortuary law when identifying the primary underlying condition attributed to a person's passing. A singular cause of death is recorded for the purpose of compiling national mortality statistics, although death certificates generally contain more information, including “non-underlying causes of death.”

According to the CDC, the 2022 top ten causes of death in the United States were:

Heart disease: 702,880
Cancer: 608,371
Accidents: 227,039
COVID-19: 186,552
Stroke: 165,393
Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 147,382
Alzheimer’s disease: 120,122
Diabetes: 101,209
Various forms of kidney disease: 57,937
Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis: 54,803

The World Health Organization provides a quick reference guide for how to fill out the cause of death on a death certificate, including instructions on how to document both underlying and non-underlying causes.