Big killer

Template:Mergeto In public health, a big killer is a disease or other major cause of loss of human life.

For big killers of the past, see pandemics.

For an alternative list, see List of causes of death by rate

World Health Organization deaths

2002

By disease, conditions

1. Ischaemic heart disease 7,208,000; 13%
2. Cerebrovascular disease 5,509,000; 10%
3. Lower respiratory tract infection 3,884,000; 7%
4. HIV/AIDS 2,777,000; 5%
5. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2,748,000; 5%
6. Perinatal conditions (low birthweight, birth asphyxia, birth trauma) 2,462,000; 4%
7. Diarrhoeal diseases 1,798,000; 3%
8. Tuberculosis 1,566,000; 3%
9. Malaria 1,272,000; 2%
10. Trachea/bronchus/lung cancers 1,243,000; 2%
11. Road traffic accidents 1,192,000; 2%
12. Childhood diseases (pertussis, polio, diphtheria, measles, tetanus) 1,124,000; 2%
13. Diabetes mellitus 988,000; 2%
14. Other unintentional injuries (besides road traffic accidents, poisoning, falls, fires, drowning) 923,000; 2%
15. Hypertensive heart disease 911,000; 2%
16. Self-inflicted injuries (suicide) 873,000; 2%
17. Stomach cancer 850,000; 2%
18. Cirrhosis of the liver 786,000; 1%
19. Nephritis/nephrosis 677,000; 1%
20. Colon/rectal cancer 622,000; 1%
21. Liver cancer 618,000; 1%
22. Violence 559,000; 1%
23. Breast cancer 477,000; 1%
24. Esophageal cancer 446,000; 1%
25. Inflammatory heart disease 404,000; 1%
26. Alzheimer and other dementias 397,000; 1%
27. Falls 392,000; 1%

By category

1. Cardiovascular diseases: 16 733 000 27%
2. Infectious and parasitic diseases: 10 904 000 19%
3. Malignant neoplasms: 7,121,000 13%
4. Respiratory infections: 3,963,000 7%
5. Respiratory diseases: 3,702,000 7%
6. Unintentional injuries: 3,551,000 6%
7. Perinatal conditions: 2,462,000 4%
8. Digestive diseases: 1,968,000 4%
9. Intentional injuries: 1,618,000 3%
10. Neuropsychiatric disorders: 1,112,000 2%
11. Diabetes mellitus: 988,000 2%
12. Diseases of the genitourinary system: 848,000 2%
13. Maternal conditions: 510,000 1%
14. Congenital abnormalities: 493,000 1%
15. Nutritional deficiencies: 485,000 1%
16. Nutritional/endocrine disorders: 485,000 1%

Source: The World Health Report - 2004 Annex Table 2 Deaths - World Health Organization

See also

• Infectious disease

External links

• Odds of death by various injuries or accidents from National Safety Council (U.S.A.)