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  4. Looking forward: The most significant 2024 US healthcare trends - Part 1 of 5

Looking forward: The most significant 2024 US healthcare trends - Part 1 of 5

2024 may well be the most challenging year yet for the US healthcare industry. Our research reveals five overarching trends likely to have the strongest impact on the industry and improving the health of Americans for the months and years ahead.

TREND 1—Alarming declines in physical health

Despite all the gains technology and research have offered, Americans’ health is still in decline as evidenced by these measures:

  • A 3% increase in the infant mortality rate for the United States in 2022. This is the first year-to-year increase since 2002. Increases were seen across a number of races and nationalities.1
  • Tripled obesity measures over the past 60 years. Surveys reveal that 43% of Americans are considered obese, with 10% considered morbidly obese.2
  • A “shocking” life-expectancy decline. Young Americans die at higher rates than in other high-income countries. Maternal and infant mortality rates are among the highest for comparable-income countries, as well.3
  • Early-onset cancers in adults under 50 years of age have dramatically risen. Possible factors in the 30-year trend include alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation, and altered microbes.4
  • A surge in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are among those contributing to the 7% increase in cases in 2021.5
  • An increase in deaths globally related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). One in 5 occurred in children under the age of 5. Most of the 77 new antibacterial treatments in clinical development are derivatives of existing classes with established mechanisms of drug resistance.6 

The challenges to the industry are clear. Declining measures highlight that despite our great advances in specific disease states and areas, there are large areas of concern that negatively impact our overall success and may even compromise our gains in specific applications. Addressing these issues and additional education may be key to further achievement in all areas.  

Over the next several posts, we’ll review what ICON considers the other 4 significant trends most likely to have significant impact on the US healthcare industry in 2024.

If you are ready to begin leveraging ICON’s experience to enhance your 2024 efforts, click here to send us an email or RFP. 

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