American Women Have the Highest Rate of Avoidable Deaths

What We’re Showing

This graphic shows the rate of avoidable deaths per 100,000 females in high-income countries. This data comes from the OECD, accessed via The Commonwealth Fund.

“Avoidable deaths” are deaths before age 75 from conditions that can be prevented or treated.

Key Takeaway

America’s significantly higher rate of avoidable deaths highlights shortcomings in the nation's public health systems.

More details

• Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S.
• Preventive health care services like cancer screenings and immunizations can limit the number of avoidable deaths
• American women are more likely to have multiple chronic conditions than women in most peer nations, and are also the most likely to take multiple prescription drugs on a regular basis to treat underlying health conditions