Alarming US Infant Mortality Rate Surge, Highest in 20 Years

– The US infant mortality rate increased by 3% in 2022, marking the largest increase in two decades, with significant rise in death rates among white and Native American infants, infant boys, and babies born at 37 weeks or earlier. Maternal complications and bacterial meningitis were two leading causes of the increase.
– Despite a general decrease of the death rate by 5% in 2022 due to the waning impact of the Covid pandemic, over 30 states noticed at least slight rises in infant mortality rates. The states with statistically significant increases include Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, and Texas.
– The national infant mortality rate rose to 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, up from 5.44 the previous year, with the total number of infant deaths surpassing 20,500. This is seen as concerning due to the fact that the US infant mortality rate has generally been improving because of medical advances and public health efforts.

US Infant Mortality Shows Alarming Increase in 2022

The US witnessed a 3% leap in infant mortality rate last year, the largest in 20 years, as per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This surge significantly impacted White and Native American infants, infant boys, and babies born prematurely at 37 weeks or less.

The CDC’s Wednesday report highlighted larger increases in two main causes of infant deaths – maternal complications and bacterial meningitis. This pattern is concerning as it deviates from the usual trend of decreasing infant mortality, noted Marie Thoma, a maternal and infant mortality researcher at the University of Maryland.

Philadelphia-based neonatologist, Dr Eric Eichenwald, labelled the new data as “disturbing”. The speculation currently surrounds why this statistic, which has been decreasing for decades, spiked in 2022. One possible factor could be the rebound of RSV and flu infections in 2022.

Infant mortality concerns the number of infants who die before their first birthday. The US infant mortality rate has typically been worse than other developed countries, often attributed to poverty and inadequate prenatal care. However, the US rate had been gradually improving due to medical advancements and public health initiatives.

The national rate rose to 5.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, an increase from the previous year’s 5.44 per 1,000. Danielle Ely, the CDC report’s lead author, stated this increase is the first significant one since 2001-2002.

Despite the overall 5% decrease in the US death rate in 2022, over 30 states experienced minor rises in infant mortality rates with Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, and Texas showing significant increases. US infant deaths exceeded 20,500 in 2022, an increase of 610 from the previous year.

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