Covid was the US leading cause of deaths for 45 to 54 year-olds in 2021

Between March 2020 and October 2021, about 700,000 people in the US died of covid, which was the third overall cause of mortality, accounting for 12.2% of all deaths, according to a new study of death certificate data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

While the pandemic killed people of all ages, it had a disproportionate impact on the middle aged. In 2021, covid was the leading cause of death for people ages 45 to 54, surpassing heart disease and cancer, which would otherwise be the top causes of death. While covid caused many more deaths in older age groups in absolute numbers, in no cohort was it as disruptive as it was among 45 to 54 year-olds.

A disproportionate covid impact on middle-aged people

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