NEWS > HEALTH > CDC REPORTS LIFE EXPECTANCY SPIKE DUE TO DECREASE IN DEATHS

CDC REPORTS LIFE EXPECTANCY SPIKE DUE TO DECREASE IN DEATHS

August 25 2009

Atlanta, GA – The United States has long been burdened with one of the lowest life expectancies in the civilized world. In the midst of the ongoing debate over healthcare those numbers have become a central part of the argument. Like many things in the
U.S. though answers aren’t always easily uncovered. The complex society and the sheer numbers of people have often skewed the life expectancy lower than other countries, making things look a lot worse than they are in reality.

Now the Centers for Disease Control has announced unexpected jump in the life expectancy of Americans. With people now living to 78 years old the country has moved up the list and now ranks number thirty in the world. The organization is pointing to a number of factors that are allowing Americans to live longer and more fulfilling lives, chief among them decreased levels of death. Though the report is still preliminary it does suggest that as fewer and fewer people die life expectancy will continue to grow alongside.

“The number of deaths and the overall death rate dropped from 2006 — to about 760
deaths per 100,000 people from about 776. The death rate has been falling for eight straight years, and is half of what it was 60 years ago. Heart disease and cancer together are the cause of nearly half of U.S. fatalities. The death rate from heart disease dropped nearly 5 percent in 2007, and the cancer death rate fell nearly 2 percent, said the report in part. “Across the board normally fatal diseases have seen a major decline which is all leading to increased longevity, which in turn increases the overall life expectancy. We expect that this combination of factors will continue and life expectancy will continue to grow as we move forward.”

By averaging the longest living and the shortest living, a median age is arrived at, creating the overall life expectancy. The report also showed an increase in infant mortality which is due in large part to better medical care allowing at-risk pregnancies to be taken to full term. Such deaths have inhibited the growth of life expectancy.

“Many countries around the world have realized for years that decreasing the number of people dying does wonders for the life expectancy numbers. Macau is currently the highest with a life expectancy of 84 years old and that has been accomplished by preventing death, especially amongst younger people. When younger people die it very much throws off the numbers,” said Scrape TV Health analyst Rebecca Phelps. “Life expectancy often enters into the health care debate and that is totally valid but also misleading when it is used as the primary argument. The United States is ranked quite low but it also has a dramatically higher population than any of those countries currently beating it. There is no 1:1 ratio when it comes to things like death rates. There is exponential growth and the bigger a country the more factors come into play.”

Japan is the most populous of the top thirty nations and currently ranks third in life expectancy at 82 years. It’s believed that Japan has also kept such a high ranking due to its relatively low death rate.  

“Population size and diversity of course aren’t the only factors and medical care certainly plays a part in the expectations. In the United States this is a particular problem because the very people who are unlikely to have health insurance are the people who are most likely to be involved in activities that could precipitate their deaths at a young age,” continued Phelps. “Ultimately though if the United States is ever going to really move up the list and increase their life expectancy they will have to make a concerted effort to have fewer people die. Whatever else other countries are doing they are making sure people live longer and that is winning them the race and in a pretty sound manner as well.”

Aside from the health care debate it’s not immediately clear what U.S. Officials are doing to increase life expectancy. Rumours of an invasion of higher ranking countries such as San Marino or Andorra are apparently false.    

Lauren Hebert, Health Correspondent

NEWS > HEALTH > CDC REPORTS LIFE EXPECTANCY SPIKE DUE TO DECREASE IN DEATHS