The work of two Princeton economists — one a Nobel laureate — was quickly refused by both JAMA and NEJM, according to The Washington Post.
The study, ultimately published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows a startling increase between 1999 and 2013 in the mortality rate for whites 45 to 54 years old with a high school education. It is startling because this mortality rate had decreased significantly over the prior two decades, and this reversal is unprecedented for any demographic group in an advanced nation, according to the report.
Neither NEJM nor JAMA provided comment on submissions, citing confidentiality policies, according to the report. However, Angus Deaton, DPhil, co-author of the study, told The Washington Post that NEJM mentioned the study does not provide an explanation for the spike in mortality.
While this is true, the study suggests opioid and heroin abuse, liver disease and alcohol abuse, and suicides may be a factor.
"There's this widening between people at the top and the people who have a ho-hum education and they're not tooled up to compete in a technological economy. … Not only are these people struggling economically, but they're experiencing this health catastrophe too, so they're being hammered twice," Dr. Deaton told The Washington Post.
Read the full report here.
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