A study launched by the Directorate of research, studies and evaluation of statistics (DREES), the Center for Epidemiology of Medical Causes of DeathInserm (CépiDc-Inserm) and Public health France analyzes the new – or not – causes of mortality in France. Unsurprisingly, as in previous years, cancers, strokes and respiratory diseases are in the lead… But new data tends to change the situation.
In 2022, according to the results communicated, tumors, that is to say cancers, are the leading cause of death. They account for a quarter of deaths (25.5%). Deaths due to tumors concern people on average younger than those from all causes combined. Tumor mortality continues its downward trend but is stabilizing among women.
Cardio-neurovascular diseases (such as myocardial infarction, stroke and heart failure), the second cause of death, account for 20.8% of mortality. These deaths generally concern elderly people.
This is the most common cause among people aged 85 and over. Between 2021 and 2022, mortality due to cardio-neurovascular diseases, which takes into account the aging of the population, increases slightly among women, while it remains stable among men. As in 2021, this mortality is higher for all sexes and all ages combined than what the continuation of trends before the health crisis suggested.
According to a first, still provisional estimate of the rates and number of deaths by cause, mortality from each of these two causes would decrease slightly in 2023.
Increase in deaths from respiratory diseases
In 2022, deaths due to diseases of the respiratory system (excluding Covid-19) have increased significantly and represent 6.7% of deaths, i.e. the 3rd cause of death; mortality is approaching its level before the health crisis. These deaths concern elderly people: half of them are 86 years old or older.
The increase in 2022 could be partly explained by the two seasonal influenza epidemics 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 and the active circulation of other respiratory viruses (notably respiratory syncytial virus). Conversely, the number of deaths due to Covid-19 has decreased by almost a third compared to 2021 and becomes the 5th cause of death.
This decline could be largely explained by the achievement of high collective immunity at national and international level (broad vaccination coverage, less virulence of variants). The phenomenon would continue in 2023.
Mortality due to accidents is increasing
The number of deaths due to external causes i.e. transport accidents, accidental falls, domestic accidents, accidental poisoning, drowning, etc. is 44,800, or 6.7% of deaths. External causes are the second leading cause of death in people under 65, after tumors.
For the first year since 2020, mortality due to external causes, in particular accidents, is also significantly higher than what the continuation of pre-health crisis trends suggested.
That same year, mortality due to accidents increased in all age groups, particularly among those over 85. This increase is driven by an increase in falls and domestic accidents. Deaths due to transport accidents will also increase in 2022 without however returning to the level before the health crisis.
Trend breaks for certain causes which are confirmed in 2022
The increase in mortality for the majority of other major causes will continue in 2022, breaking with the downward trend observed before the Covid-19 health crisis. This is particularly the case for endocrine diseases and diseases of the digestive system.
Finally, the share of deaths in public health establishments continues to decrease, while those in accommodation establishments for dependent elderly people (Ehpad) and at home increase in 2022.