Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam 2026 – Complete Practice Resource

The correct choice is anchored in the prevailing epidemiological data regarding mortality causes in middle-aged and older adults. Heart disease is consistently ranked as the leading cause of death within this demographic, largely due to factors like hypertension, high cholesterol, and lifestyle issues that have accumulated over decades. Lung cancer also stands out as a significant contributor, especially among individuals with a history of smoking or exposure to environmental toxins. Additionally, cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) or strokes are critical causes of mortality, often arising from similar risk factors as heart disease and leading to substantial disability and death rates.

Understanding these conditions in the context of demographics highlights their prevalence and the public health burden they impose. While diabetes and kidney disease are indeed serious health concerns, they do not have the same magnitude of association with mortality compared to heart disease, lung cancer, and strokes. Similarly, conditions like asthma and obesity, while relevant to overall health, do not lead to death as frequently as those listed in the correct choice. Therefore, the combination of heart disease, lung cancer, and CVAs encapsulates the primary health threats that warrant focus in middle-aged and older adult populations.