The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a report stating that the infant mortality rate in the United States increased by 3% last year, marking the largest increase in two decades. This alarming trend has raised concerns among experts and researchers who have been studying maternal and infant mortality rates. The report also highlighted significant death rate increases among white and Native American infants, infant boys, and babies born at 37 weeks or earlier. Additionally, two leading causes of infant deaths, maternal complications, and bacterial meningitis, experienced larger increases.

Marie Thoma, a researcher at the University of Maryland, expressed her concern about the rising mortality rate, stating that it is going against the previous downward trend observed over the years. Dr. Eric Eichenwald, a neonatologist from Philadelphia, called the new data “disturbing” and stated that experts can only speculate about the reasons behind this sudden increase. He suggested that the resurgence of RSV and flu infections last fall, following two years of pandemic precautions, may have contributed to the rise in infant mortality.

Infant mortality is calculated as the number of babies who die before their first birthday. To ensure accurate comparisons over time, researchers calculate rates instead of relying solely on the number of deaths, as the number of live births can vary each year. The infant mortality rate in the U.S. has historically been worse than that of other high-income countries, with poverty, inadequate prenatal care, and other factors being attributed as possible causes. However, medical advances and public health efforts have gradually improved the rate over the years.

According to the CDC report, the national infant mortality rate rose to 5.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, up from 5.44 per 1,000 the previous year. While this increase may seem small, it is the first statistically significant jump in the rate since 2001-2002. Danielle Ely, the lead author of the CDC report, stated that it is unclear whether this increase is a one-time anomaly or the beginning of a more lasting trend.

Despite the overall decrease in the national death rate by 5% in 2022, attributed to the waning impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were notable increases in infant mortality rates in over 30 states. Four states, namely Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, and Texas, experienced statistically significant increases. Georgia had 116 more infant deaths compared to the previous year, while Texas had 251 more. Ely pointed out that these states may have a larger impact on the national rate, but it is challenging to determine the precise factors contributing to the overall statistic.

It is important to note that maternal deaths also decreased in 2022, and the decrease in mortality rates for people aged 65 and older played a significant role in the overall decrease in the death rate. The CDC report urged further investigation and analysis to understand the underlying factors causing the increase in infant mortality, especially in the states where the rise was more pronounced.

This article was sourced from The Associated Press Health and Science Department and received support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group. The responsibility for the content lies solely with the AP.