Overview

• Between 2007 and 2022 US infants faced a 78% higher death rate and children aged 1–19 an 80% higher rate compared with 18 other high-income countries.
• From 2011 to 2023 the prevalence of chronic conditions in children rose by up to 20%, leaving nearly half of pediatric primary-care patients with at least one chronic illness.
• Firearm-related injuries are now the leading cause of death among US youth, who face a 15-times greater risk of dying by gunshot than their counterparts abroad.
• Disparities in infant mortality are driven largely by preterm births and sudden unexpected infant death accounting for the widest gaps.
• Study authors urge a national campaign to expand Medicaid, strengthen social supports, curb firearm access and rebuild community ties.