PSA: Top 10 causes of death in Philippines in 2024
The Chinese Cemetery in Manila
MANILA, Philippines — Heart diseases, neoplasms and stroke were the top three causes of death in the country from January to August of 2024, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
In a March 3 report, the PSA said ischemic or coronary heart diseases topped the list, with 67,856 cases accounting for 19.7 percent of the total deaths nationwide.
The latest ranking was consistent with the top causes of death for the same period in 2023, the PSA said.
READ: Heart disease remains Philippines' leading cause of death, says PSA.
Ischemic heart disease, also called coronary heart disease or coronary artery disease, is caused by narrowed heart (coronary) arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.
Neoplasms followed as the second leading cause, with 38,132 deaths representing 11.1 percent of the total.
The US National Cancer Institute defines neoplasm as "an abnormal mass of tissue that forms when cells grow and divide more than they should or do not die when they should." It may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).
Cerebrovascular diseases ranked third, with 34,464 recorded cases, constituting 10.0 percent of the total deaths.
READ: Deadly grip of cardiovascular diseases on Filipino families
According to the US National Library of Medicine, a cerebrovascular accident, or stroke, is an emergency medical condition characterized by an acute compromise of the cerebral perfusion or vasculature. It added that the leading cause of ischemic stroke is hypertension, whereas clotting disorders, carotid dissection, and illicit drug abuse are common causes in younger populations.
Pneumonia emerged as the fourth leading cause of death with 22,525 cases (6.5 percent), while diabetes mellitus ranked fifth with 21,736 deaths or 6.3 percent share.
