Cause of deaths in France: tumors, cardio-neurovascular and respiratory diseases top the list, Covid is on the decline

In 2022, France experienced a strong increase in respiratory diseases other than Covid-19, which became the third cause of death. Tumors and particularly cancers remain the leading cause of death in France, ahead of diseases of the circulatory system, also called cardio-neurovascular diseases, such as heart attacks, strokes or heart failure. After two years of intense circulation, Covid had taken less place in 2022 in the causes of mortality in France, according to a study published Tuesday October 8 by the Public Health France agency, Inserm and the statistics department of the Ministry of Health (Drees).

Collective immunity?

In France, 673,190 people died in 2022, more than in 2020 and 2021, “two years nevertheless strongly impacted by the Covid-19 epidemic”explains the study. Indeed, the number of deaths due to Covid has decreased by almost a third compared to 2021 and becomes the 5th cause of death. “This decline could be largely explained by the achievement of high collective immunity at the national and international level”estimate Public Health France, Inserm and Drees.

In 2022, cancers represent more than a quarter of deaths in the country, and therefore remain the leading cause of death. Next come cardio-neurovascular diseases, with 20.8% of deaths. Deaths due to diseases of the respiratory system (excluding Covid) have increased significantly and represent 6.7% of deaths, notes the study, which estimates that this increase “could be partly explained by the two seasonal influenza epidemics 2021-22 and 2022-23 and the active circulation of other respiratory viruses”.

Public Health France, Inserm and Drees also point to the increase in mortality due to accidents. Thus, in 2022, the number of deaths due to external causes is 44,800, or 6.7% of deaths. “This increase is driven by an increase in falls and domestic accidents,” but also by transport accidents.