A new study reveals that cancer patients diagnosed during the early COVID-19 pandemic had worse short-term survival rates than a similar group before the pandemic. Published by the medical journal JAMA Oncology, the study shows that people diagnosed in 2020 and 2021 had lower survival rates than those diagnosed between 2015 and 2019. Researchers found this trend across various cancers, regardless of the stage at diagnosis. The study suggests that disruptions to the health care system likely contributed to these outcomes. COVID-19 forced many to postpone cancer screenings, affecting early detection and treatment. One expert says the study highlights the importance of understanding COVID-19's impact to prepare for future pandemics.
U.S. life expectancy has hit the highest mark in American history. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday reported that life expectancy rose to 79 years in 2024. It’s the result of the dissipation of the COVID-19 pandemic — and also waning death rates from all of the nation’s top killers, including heart disease, cancer and drug overdoses. Preliminary statistics suggest a continued improvement in 2025. Life expectancy is an estimate of the average number of years a baby born in a given year might expect to live, given death rates at that time. It's a fundamental measure of a population’s health.
A deadly car crash in Nigeria involving former boxing champion Anthony Joshua and two minibus accidents in South Africa have highlighted Africa's poor road safety record. The continent has the highest road fatality rate globally, despite having only about 3% of the world's vehicles. According to the United Nations, Africa sees 26 road deaths per 100,000 people, compared with a global average of 18. The World Health Organization reports that road deaths have decreased globally but increased in Africa. Pedestrians, bicycles, and motorbikes often share crowded roads with cars, buses, and trucks, leading to high pedestrian fatalities.
In 2020, there were more than 51,000 babies born in Kentucky, according to data.