American Surgeons Die of Cancer More Often Than Other Physicians

Although they share similar medical education and access to healthcare resources, surgeons face a higher overall mortality risk compared with physicians in non-surgical specialties, according to a study led by experts from Harvard Medical School.

Analysis of Annual Death Records

The authors used population data from the 2023 U.S. National Vital Statistics System. They analyzed death records indicating age, sex, underlying cause of death, and occupation, covering a total of 1,080,298 deaths. The analyzed groups included surgeons, physicians in other specialties, and other professionals with comparable income and education levels (lawyers, engineers, scientists) aged 25 to 74 years.

The results showed higher mortality (adjusted for age and sex) among surgeons compared to physicians in other specialties: 355.3 vs. 228.4 deaths per 100,000 people (rate ratio [RR] 1.56, 95% CI 1.36–1.78). Possible contributing factors include long working hours, a highly competitive work environment, workplace violence, and exposure to radiation.

Scientists, engineers, and lawyers had a statistically nonsignificant higher adjusted mortality than surgeons (404.5 per 100,000, RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.77–1.0). In all other occupations, mortality was significantly higher than among surgeons (632.5 per 100,000, RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.49–0.64).

However, the analysis could not assess long-term trends, as only one year of mortality data was available.

Low Mortality From Diabetes Among Surgeons

Across all analyzed groups, the two leading causes of death were malignant neoplasms and cardiovascular diseases. Cancer mortality was higher among surgeons than in any other group, including non-surgeon physicians. Surgeons’ mortality from cancer was more than twice that of doctors in other specialties: 193.2 vs. 87.5 per 100,000 (RR 2.21, 95% CI 1.75–2.80).

Traffic accidents ranked as the fourth most common cause of death among surgeons, compared to ninth among other physicians. Suicide ranked fifth among all physicians, including surgeons.

Hypertension was the eighth most common cause of death in surgeons but only the fifteenth among physicians of other specialties. Assault ranked ninth among surgeons and fourteenth among other doctors.

Notably, mortality from diabetes was remarkably low among surgeons —⁠ lower than in all other professional comparison groups and also lower than in other physicians.

A Demanding Profession

Robert Uzzo, a uro-oncologist and president of the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, who was not involved in the study, commented on the findings for Renal and Urology News. He suggested that the higher mortality among surgeons from the above causes may be linked to long working hours, chronic stress, and greater exposure to various occupational risks.

According to Uzzo, many surgeons prioritize their patients’ health over their own, which can lead to delayed screenings and neglect of primary care.

He added that the long, irregular, and physically demanding work of a surgeon results in high cognitive strain and requires considerable physical endurance. Sleep deprivation and stress impair reaction time and decision-making—two key factors for safe driving—potentially explaining the increased risk of fatal car accidents among surgeons.

Deaths related to assault may, according to Uzzo, reflect the growing trend of workplace violence in healthcare. People working in this sector are increasingly exposed not only to verbal but also to physical attacks.

Editorial Team, Medscope.pro

Sources:

1. Patel VR, Stearns SA, Liu M, et al. Mortality Among Surgeons in the United States. JAMA Surg 2025 Jul 30:e252482, doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2025.2482.

2. Surgeons Have Higher Death Rate Than Other Physicians in the US. Renal + Urology News. Available at: www.renalandurologynews.com/news/physicians-united-states-surgeons-higher-death-rate-treatment-risk