In a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report , researchers used provisional data on deaths to examine mortality trends that can inform public health interventions and policies. Provisional data provide an early estimate of deaths before the final annual data is available, but these figures may be revised as more information is received. Their results indicate that mortality from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now the tenth leading cause of death in the U.
S. and that across causes of death, the overall mortality rate is highest among African American or non-Hispanic Black individuals. Provisional* number of COVID-19–associated deaths† and other deaths and percentage of deaths associated with COVID-19, by week of death — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2023 Background The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) collects and publishes yearly death statistics using data from certificates of death issued in the U.
S. Final figures for each year are usually available 11 months later due to the time needed for thorough investigation and review. However, provisional data, such as those used in this report, offer an early signal about shifts in mortality trends.
These estimates help track changes in death trends and shape public health strategies aimed at reducing deaths, especially in high-mortality groups. About the study The National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) regularly releases provisional death data, including COVID-19 deaths. This repo.
