A March 2021 JAMA Network study on the leading causes of death in 2020 noted increases in deaths from diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and unintentional injury—even at the height of COVID-19. "Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes, may also reflect disruptions in health care that hampered early detection and disease management," the study's authors wrote.

The Commonwealth Fund's annual Scorecard on State Health System Performance agrees with that assessment. "As evidenced by steep declines in outpatient visits during 2020, many Americans were forced to delay routine health services such as checkups, screenings, and chronic care management because of COVID-19 lockdowns and overwhelmed health care facilities," the Scorecard states. "Premature deaths from treatable conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, which can be managed through timely, high-quality care, jumped from 83.8 to 89.8 deaths per 100,000 population between 2019 and 2020."

The report from Commonwealth aims to assess the health care system in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and whether Americans are getting the care they need at the right time and without catastrophic hits to the wallet. The Scorecard also takes a look at the general health of America, the prevalence of high-risk behaviors and the chances of dying early from preventable diseases.