Global Analysis Predicts Rise in Superbug Deaths
A new global analysis forecasts that antimicrobial resistance will lead to over 39 million deaths by 2050, particularly affecting older populations. The study highlights a significant increase in AMR-related fatalities among individuals over 70 years old.
| Score | Value |
|---|---|
Scale | 10 |
Novelty | 7 |
Positivity | 3 |
Reliability | 9 |
Actionability | 6 |
Society | 9 |
Journalism | 5 |
Highlights
- A global analysis predicts that superbugs will kill more than 39 million people before 2050, with older individuals particularly at risk.
- By 2050, 1.91 million people are forecast to die annually due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), up from 1.14 million in 2021.
- The study, published in the Lancet, was conducted by the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (Gram) Project and involved data from 204 countries.
- Deaths from AMR among individuals over 70 are expected to rise 146% by 2050, from 512,353 to 1.3 million.
- Global leaders are set to meet during the UN's general assembly to discuss AMR and aim to reduce AMR deaths by 10% by 2030.
Perspectives
- Experts express significant concern regarding the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance, particularly among older populations who are more vulnerable to infections and have higher rates of AMR-related deaths.
- The study suggests that millions of deaths could be prevented through improved infection prevention, better healthcare access, and the development of new antibiotics.