Cancer remains the leading cause of death according to the Health Ministry’s 2023 Cause of Death Statistics released on Monday. The study reports roughly 205,000 deaths, down 1.4% from the previous year, mainly due to the decreased number of deaths related to COVID-19.
Following cancer are heart disease, pneumonia, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, pneumonia resulting from COVID-19, hypertensive disease, accidental injury, chronic lower respiratory tract diseases, and kidney disease.
Within the top ten cancers, lung cancer has been ranked most common for about two decades consecutively. Health Ministry Health Promotion Administration Deputy Director Chia Shu-Li (賈淑麗) pointed out that the causes of cancer are complex and early detection is key to timely and effective treatment. Government promotion of lung cancer screening for smokers and those with a family history began in July 2022, which has enabled 1,225 people to discover cancer as of May this year, with 84% early enough to significantly improve chances of survival.
Notably, deaths related to COVID-19 dropped to sixth place in 2023. CDC Deputy Director Tseng Shu-Hui (曾淑慧) said there were 5,000 fewer deaths last year than the year prior and that the CDC estimates even lower numbers this year. She details that with only 1,000 deaths in 2024 so far, COVID-19 may soon drop out of the list of the top ten causes of death. However, Tseng reminded the public that COVID-19 mutates faster than influenza, and to get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.