Michigan’s Leading Causes of Death Have Settled Back to Pre-COVID Levels

For the first time since the pandemic, Michigan’s leading causes of death now closely mirror what the state saw before COVID, with long-term chronic illnesses once again dominating mortality instead of pandemic-driven spikes. Recent state data shows that heart disease, cancer, stroke, and other chronic conditions have reasserted themselves as the primary drivers of death, signaling that Michigan’s cause-of-death patterns have largely stabilized back to pre-COVID norms.

1. Influenza and pneumonia: approximately 1,430 deaths

Seasonal respiratory illnesses continue to appear at the lower end of Michigan’s leading causes, varying year to year based on flu severity.

1. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis: approximately 1,530 deaths

Liver-related deaths, including alcohol- and metabolic-related causes, remain a consistent but lower-ranked contributor.

1. Kidney disease: approximately 2,040 deaths

Kidney failure deaths often overlap with diabetes and hypertension and continue to hold a mid-lower position.

1. Diabetes mellitus: approximately 3,290 deaths

Diabetes remains a major underlying contributor to death, frequently compounding heart and kidney disease.

1. Alzheimer’s disease: approximately 4,270 deaths

As Michigan’s population ages, Alzheimer’s continues to rise and remains a major long-term cause of death.

1. Unintentional injuries: approximately 4,760 deaths

This category includes falls, vehicle crashes, and poisonings, which have declined from recent highs but remain significant.

1. Chronic lower respiratory diseases: approximately 5,390 deaths

Conditions such as COPD continue to rank high, particularly among older adults and former smokers.

1. Stroke: approximately 6,540 deaths

Stroke has moved ahead of accidents in recent years, reflecting the growing impact of age-related cardiovascular disease.

1. Cancer: approximately 21,430 deaths

Cancer remains Michigan’s second-leading cause of death, with totals holding relatively steady.

1. Heart disease: approximately 26,280 deaths

Heart disease continues to be Michigan’s leading cause of death by a wide margin, far exceeding all other causes.

Why this looks like pre-COVID Michigan again

COVID no longer appears in Michigan’s top 10 because deaths are no longer broadly attributed to COVID the way they were during the pandemic. Hospitals are not testing at the same scale, and COVID is being listed far less often on death certificates than it was during the height of the pandemic.

How these numbers were developed

These figures were derived by reviewing Michigan’s official 2023 and 2024 cause-of-death tables, calculating the year-over-year change for each category, and applying those trends forward to project 2025 as Michigan returned to pre-pandemic mortality patterns.