Global Causes of Death to 2020

Trends in mortality are key indicators to the health of a nation – and its current and future need for pharmaceutical and medical technology. Having practical and well organised access to that data is essential for sound marketing and business development planning.

The reasons behind the shifting outlook for cause of death rates are obviously numerous and complex. For the more developed countries in this study, the ageing population evidently plays a prominent role, with circulatory diseases and neoplasms accounting for the majority of deaths, but as healthcare technology and lifestyle improvements start to make an impact on related mortality, then other causes of death related to longevity become more prevalent, notably Mental & Behavioural Disorders and Nervous System Disorders (which include dementias).

For less developed countries, healthcare technology and health information may be less accessible, and therefore deaths from preventable or treatable diseases can be expected to continue to rise, for example circulatory disease, cancer and diabetes.

Growing populations do not indicate an ever increasing burden of need. By 2020, the death rate per 100,000 population is expected to fall globally in key conditions such as breast cancer and respiratory conditions.

Disease and conditions covered in the report

• Infectious & Parasitic Diseases
• Neoplasms
• Malignant Neoplasms
• Malignant Neoplasms, Digestive System
• Malignant Neoplasms, Respiratory System
• Malignant Neoplasms, Breast
• Diseases of the Blood & Blood-Forming Organs
• Endocrine, Nutritional & Metabolic Diseases
• Diabetes
• Mental & Behavioural Disorders
• Diseases of the Nervous System & Sense Organs
• Diseases of the Circulatory System
• Ischaemic Heart Diseases
• Cerebrovascular Diseases
• Diseases of the Respiratory System
• Diseases of the Digestive System
• Diseases of the Skin & Subcutaneous Tissue
• Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System & Connective Tissue
• Diseases of the Genito-urinary System
• Pregnancy, Childbirth and Puerperium
• Perinatal Conditions
• Congenital Malformations & Chromosomal Anomalies
• Injury, Poisoning & External Causes