Fascinating comparison of the top 10 causes of death in 1900 and 2010

This chart by the New England Journal of Medicine compares the top causes of death in the United States in 1900 and 2010. The shift is fascinating—in little more than a century, humanity has eradicated so many diseases. Others, however, have increased, like cancer and heart disease.

I wonder if these increases are due to environmental factors, the aging of the population, or erroneous diagnosis in 1900.

Two additional interesting tables:

Top 10 Causes of Death, Years of Life Lost from Premature Death, Years Lived with Disability, and Disability-Adjusted Life-Years (DALYs) in the United States, 2010.

Global DALYs (Disability-Adjusted Life Year) Attributable to the 25 Leading Risk Factors in 1990 and 2010.

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