RM Study Reveals Alarming Health Crisis: American Children at Higher Risk of Death Compared to Peers in Other Wealthy Nations

A recent study highlights a concerning trend: American children are dying at much higher rates than their peers in other high-income countries. According to the study published in JAMA, American children’s health has worsened significantly over the past few decades. What’s especially troubling is that many of these deaths and health issues are preventable.

Dr. Chris Forrest, one of the study’s authors and a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, stated that the health problems facing American children are not caused by unique genetic factors or socio-economic issues. The findings reflect the overall pediatric population, pointing to a serious national crisis. “We should all be deeply concerned by these findings,” said Forrest. “Kids in the US are really suffering.”

The study, which analyzed health data from 2007 to 2022, found that American children aged 1 to 19 were 1.8 times more likely to die than children in other high-income nations. The largest disparities were in deaths caused by gun violence and car accidents. Children in the US were 15 times more likely to die from gun-related incidents and more than twice as likely to die in motor vehicle crashes compared to children in other wealthy countries.

In addition to accidents and violence, American children are also increasingly facing chronic health conditions. Dr. Forrest noted that in the 1990s, he rarely saw children with chronic conditions. However, today nearly half of all children in the US require medical care for long-term health issues. The study also found that children in 2023 were 15% to 20% more likely to have a chronic condition than those in 2011.

While asthma rates improved during this time, other conditions, including mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and loneliness, saw significant increases. There were also rising rates of developmental disorders, such as autism, ADHD, and speech-language issues. Physical health issues have worsened as well, with higher rates of obesity, sleep problems, and early onset of menstruation, which is linked to long-term health risks like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

A report from the Make America Healthy Again Commission also pointed to ultraprocessed foods, exposure to harmful chemicals, excessive screen time, and overprescription of medication as contributing factors. However, Dr. Forrest believes the causes of rising chronic conditions are more complex than just these factors. He argued that the entire environment in which children are growing up needs to be rethought, focusing on not just diet and technology, but also the broader “developmental ecosystem.” This includes where children live, go to school, play, and the overall environment around them, which all affect their health.

In the 1960s, US children had death rates similar to those in other high-income countries. But from the 1970s onward, these rates began to diverge, and now the US experiences about 54 excess child deaths per day compared to other wealthy nations. Dr. Forrest posed a crucial question: “Why are we allowing this to happen?”

Pediatricians from Virginia and Washington, in an editorial accompanying the study, raised concerns that the situation could worsen due to current political and policy trends. They pointed to cuts in government funding for child health programs, the reduction of Medicaid, and growing vaccine hesitancy as factors that could further harm children’s well-being.

The study also showed that American infants face significant risks, with babies in the US 1.78 times more likely to die than babies in other high-income nations. The biggest causes of these deaths include premature birth and sudden infant death syndrome, often caused by unsafe sleep conditions or other unexplained causes.

The study’s findings are not just about children; they reflect broader problems affecting families. Dr. Forrest noted that women, especially in rural areas, also face difficulties, such as limited access to maternity care. Many parts of the country, known as “maternity deserts,” lack healthcare providers for pregnant individuals, and this situation is worsening as more states tighten abortion laws.

Dr. Colleen Kraft, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, who did not participate in the study but has worked in the field for decades, echoed the findings, saying that nothing in the study surprised her. She pointed out that chronic health conditions are a growing concern and that community and family-based interventions could make a significant difference. For example, schools could restrict phone use to help reduce loneliness and mental health issues, and parents could encourage more outdoor play and social interaction.

Dr. Forrest concluded that improving child health in the US requires a profound change in how the country supports families. He pointed out that other nations provide more comprehensive child care, better parental leave, and higher-quality education and childcare systems. In the US, however, many parents and children lack these critical supports.

“It’s time to rethink how we treat kids and support families,” Dr. Forrest said. “When children’s health is deteriorating, it signals that the foundation of the country is also in trouble.”