Life Expectancy Worsening Or Stagnating For Large Segment Of U.S. Population

Matthew Heyes / 23 April / Population

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422103952.htm

ScienceDaily (Apr. 23, 2008)

This is a summary of a journal that documents a long term study of mortality rates (the first to do so) in the US counties between 1960 and 2000. During this period the overall life expectancy in the U.S. increased more than seven years for men (from 66.9 to 74.1) and more than six years for women (from 73.5 to 79.6), however these gains are not reaching many parts of the country; rather, the life expectancy of a significant segment of the population is declining or at best stagnating. The researchers found that 4% of the male population and 19% of the female population experienced either decline or stagnation in mortality beginning in the 1980s.

The view of the US health policy is that inequalities are acceptable, or more tolerable, as long as everyone’s health is improving. Now there is evidence that many people’s health is getting worse, particularly in the Deep South, along the Mississippi River, and in Appalachia, extending into the southern portion of the Midwest and into Texas.

Over the last few decades life expectancy in high-income countries around the world has gradually risen, with few exceptions. Researchers for this study found the best-off counties continued to improve but that there was stagnation or worsening of life expectancy in the worst-off counties--what the researchers refer to as "the reversal of fortunes." The results of this study are a major health concern as life expectancy decline is something that has traditionally been considered a sign that the health and social systems have failed, as has been the case in parts of Africa and Eastern Europe. The fact that it is happening to an industrialized country such as America shows how inefficient their health system is and how it needs serious rethinking.

It would be one sided to just blame the failings of the US health system. Lifestyle choices are also a factor as the stagnation and worsening mortality was primarily a result of an increase in diabetes, cancers and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, combined with a slowdown or halt in improvements in cardiovascular mortality. An increase in HIV/AIDS and homicides also played a role for men, but not for women. The diseases that are responsible for this troubling trend seem to be most related to smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity.

Journal reference: "The Reversal of Fortunes: Trends in County Mortality and Cross-Country Mortality Disparities in the United States," Majid Ezzati, Ari B. Friedman, Sandeep C. Kulkarni, Christopher J.L. Murray, PLoS Medicine, April 2008, Volume 5, Issue 4.