Children’s health deteriorates: 8 things to know

U.S. children have an almost two times higher risk of death compared to children from other high-income nations, according to a study published July 7 in JAMA. 

Researchers analyzed mortality statistics, survey responses and EHR data to identify how the health of children in the U.S. has changed since 2007, and how it measures up to the health of children in other nations. 

Here are eight things to know from the research:

1. Researchers examined mortality rates in the U.S. and 18 other high-income nations from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, in addition to data drawn from the Human Mortality Database and the World Health Organization.
   
   EHR data from Jan. 1, 2010, to Dec. 31, 2023, was accessed through PEDSnet, an aggregated dataset from 10 children’s hospitals and health systems across 10 states.
   
   Survey response data was collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the National Health Interview Survey, the National Survey of Children’s Health, the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.
   
   
2. Between 2007 and 2022, children under 1 year old were 1.78 times more likely to die compared to children in other high-income nations.
   
   The three causes of death with the biggest differences in rates per 100,000 children under 1 year old in the U.S. versus other high-income nations were: prematurity, sudden unexpected infant deaths and congenital abnormalities.
   
   
3. Between 2007 and 2022, children ages 1 to 19 years old were 1.80 times more likely to die compared to children in other high-income nations.
   
   The three causes of death with the biggest differences in rates per 100,000 children ages 1 to 19 years old in the U.S. versus other high-income nations were: firearms, motor vehicle crashes and substance use.
   
   
4. Between 2011 to 2023, the prevalence of a chronic conditions among 3- to 17-year old children grew from 39.9% to 45.7%.
   
   During the same period, the incidence rates of these chronic conditions increased at the following rates:
   
   
   • Depression: 3.3
   • Sleep apnea: 3.22
   • Eating disorder: 3.2
   • Anxiety: 3.06
   • Autism spectrum disorder: 2.62
   • Obesity: 2.37
   • Disorders of lipid metabolism: 2.06
   • Developmental disorders: 2.05
     
     
5. The following chronic condition rates and symptom changes between 2007 and 2008 to 2021 and 2023 were identified:
   
   
   • Childhood obesity rates among children ages 2 to 19 years old increased from 17% to 20.9%.
     
   • Early onset of menstruation increased from 9.1% to 14.8%
     

6. Between 2009 and 2018, limitations in activity due to chronic disease increased from 7.7% to 9.1%, with 71% of those limitations attributed to developmental disorders in 2018.
   
   
7. Between 2009 and 2023, depressive symptoms among 9th to 12th graders increased from 26.1% to 39.7%.
   
   Between 2007 and 2021, feelings of loneliness among 12- to 18-year olds increased from 20.2% to 39.7%.
   
   Trouble sleeping among 16- to 17-year olds increased from 7% to 12.6% between 2007 to 2008 and 2017 to 2020.
   
   
8. “The broad scope of this deterioration highlights the need to identify and address the root causes of this fundamental decline in the nation’s health,” the study authors wrote. 

Read the full study here.