Pneumonia-related deaths became the fourth-biggest cause of death for Filipinos last year, overtaking diabetes mellitus, according to the latest data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The report showed that the total deaths from January to December 2024 as of July this year totaled to 697,602, around 2,781 or 0.4 percent more than the 694,821 deaths recorded in 2023.
Deaths from pneumonia rose by 3,159 to 46,718 deaths in 2024, while diabetes-related deaths slightly declined by 158 to 43,690.
Ischaemic heart diseases remained the leading cause of death in the Philippines last year with 133,373 deaths or about 19 percent of the total, which was 4,296 higher than reported in 2023 at 129,077.
This is followed by neoplasms at 76,971 deaths or 11 percent of the total, 2,987 higher than last year at 73,984, and cerebrovascular diseases at 68,345 deaths or 9.8 percent of all deaths, 1,457 less than that recorded in 2023.
In terms of deaths caused by unspecified, external causes in 2024 totaled to about 2 percent of all deaths at 14,028, up 544 from 2023. This is followed by transport accidents at 13,724 deaths which also has a 2 percent share, which increased by 687 from the total in 2023.
Among the regions, Calabarzon had the highest number of deaths at 105,091, amounting to 15.1 percent of all deaths throughout 2024.
Cavite, meanwhile, recorded the highest number of deaths in a province at 26,835 or 3.8 percent of all deaths in the Philippines.
The National Capital Region or Metro Manila logged 83,930 deaths, increasing by 1.8 percent from the 82,410 reported in 2023. Within it, Quezon City had the highest number of deaths at 18,357, almost 22 percent of all deaths within the region.
The data was obtained from on-time or late registered deaths submitted at city offices or Municipal Civil Registrars nationwide and forwarded to the Office of the Civil Registrar through the Provincial Statistical Offices for processing.
The report includes deaths of Filipinos whose usual residence is abroad, as well as deaths of foreign nationals that occurred within the country. However, deaths of Filipinos abroad are not included.
In January 2025, the Department of Health (DOH) Influenza-like Illness (ILI) Surveillance System logged a total of 179,227 cases as of December 31, 2024, which is still 17 percent lower than the 216,786 cases logged in the previous year.
This decrease may be attributed to better health-seeking behaviors and practices and better preparations by the health sector. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/01/09/doh-allays-fears-on-respiratory-virus-surge-in-china-says-no-cause-for-alarm/)
ILI is characterized by coughs, colds, and fever. It is commonly due to respiratory viruses with Rhinovirus (1,257/4,921 or 25.5 percent of positive samples), Enterovirus (1,140/4,921 or 23.2 percent), Influenza A (1,072/4,921 or 21.8 percent), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (560/4,921 or 11.4 percent), and Adenovirus (527/4,921 or 10.7 percent) being the top 5 causative agents of ILI in the Philippines.
In the Philippines, hMPV is being tested as part of panel 2 (expanded panel) for specimens that test negative on panel 1 (for Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and RSV) as part of the ILI and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) surveillance of the DOH.