Using AI to comb and give a quick answer and as a first start for sources for me. Long short, when compared to population size, far fewer Americans die waiting (though due to population the American raw numbers are much higher).

AI Raw copy/paste follows

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Key Findings from Published Studies:

CDC Report (2019):

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that over 100,000 Americans die each year due to preventable medical errors. While not all of these deaths are directly linked to waiting times, a significant portion is attributed to delays in diagnosis or treatment. For example, delayed diagnosis of cancer has been linked to higher mortality rates.

Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) (2018):

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine estimated that about 10% of inpatient deaths in U.S. hospitals are due to preventable factors, including delays in treatment. While not all of these are directly tied to waiting times, the study highlights how systemic delays contribute to mortality.

National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Report (2016):

The National Academy of Medicine estimated that more than 250,00 to 400,000 people die each year in the U.S. due to medical errors. While not all of these are due to waiting times, delays in care are a significant contributor to this number.

Emergency Department Wait Times:

A 2017 study in the Annals of Emergency Medicine found that patients who waited more than 1 hour in the emergency department had a 2.5 times higher risk of death compared to those who were seen sooner. This suggests that waiting times in critical care settings can significantly impact survival rates.

Waiting Time and Mortality in Chronic Illnesses:

A 2020 study published in Health Affairs found that patients with chronic illnesses who experienced long wait times for specialist care had higher mortality rates. The study estimated that up to 5% of deaths in patients with chronic conditions could be attributed to delayed access to care.

Summary Estimate:

While there is no single, universally accepted percentage, estimates suggest that between 5% and 10% of American patients may die while waiting for medical treatment that could have prevented their death. This figure is likely an underestimate, as many deaths due to waiting times are not always classified as preventable in official statistics.

Conclusion:

The exact percentage varies by study, but multiple published studies suggest that waiting times contribute to preventable deaths in the U.S., with estimates ranging from 5% to 10% of patients dying while waiting for treatment that could have saved them.