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 2023 top ten causes of death in the United States were:
- Heart disease: 680,981
- Cancer: 613,352
- Accidents (unintentional injuries): 222,698
- Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 162,639
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 145,357
- Alzheimer’s disease: 114,034
- Diabetes: 95,190
- Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 55,253
- Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis: 52,222
- COVID-19: 49,932
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.
[Last reviewed in September of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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