Surgeons Have Higher Mortality Rates Than Other Physicians
TUESDAY, Aug. 5, 2025 -- Surgeons have higher mortality rates than nonsurgeon physicians and individuals in other fields, according to a research letter published online July 30 in JAMA Surgery.
Vishal R. Patel, M.D., M.P.H., from Harvard University in Boston, and colleagues evaluated the rates and leading causes of death among surgeons. The analysis included population count denominators determined from the 2023 American Community Survey by age, sex, and occupation, as well as death certificate data on adults aged 25 through 74 years from the 2023 National Vital Statistics System. Comparisons were made to nonsurgeon physicians, lawyers, engineers, and scientists.
The researchers found that among roughly 1.08 million identified decedents, 0.02 percent were surgeons and 0.25 percent were other physicians. Surgeons had a higher age- and sex-adjusted mortality rate (355.3 per 100,000 population) versus nonsurgeon physicians (228.4), yielding a mortality rate ratio (MRR) of 1.56 (95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.36 to 1.78). The mortality rate was similar to that of lawyers, engineers, and scientists (404.5; MRR, 0.88; 95 percent CI, 0.77 to 1.00). For all occupations, neoplasms (first) and heart disease (second) were the leading causes of death. However, among surgeons, motor vehicle collisions were the fourth leading cause of death but were ninth in all other occupation groups. Additionally, deaths from hypertension and assault also ranked higher among surgeons (eighth and ninth, respectively) versus other groups. Mortality from neoplasms was higher among surgeons (193.2) than any other group, including nonsurgeon physicians (87.5; MRR, 2.21; 95 percent CI, 1.75 to 2.80).
"Because surgeons and nonsurgeon physicians have similar levels of health care knowledge and resources, higher mortality rates among surgeons might reflect differences related to work environment, professional demands, and lifestyle," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed ties to relevant organizations.
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