People Are Living Longer Than Ever Before, But Are Sicker

The increase in healthy life expectancy has not been as dramatic as the growth of life expectancy, and as a result, people are living more years with illness and disability.

Leading author of the study Theo Vos, a professor at IHME, said that in spite of the health advancement the world has seen, now is the time for more efficient ways to be discovered in the battle against disorders and diseases. In India, for example, life expectancy has extended between 1990 and 2013 with 6.9 years for men and 10.3 years for women. For instance, in the case of men, the healthy life expectancy has increased from 50.07 years in 1990 to 56.52 years in 2013 while in the case of women it has been from 50.15 years in 1990 to 59.11 years in 2013.

In countries like Belize, Botswana and Syria healthy life expectancy in 2013 was not much higher than in 1990.

Those detract from quality of life and impose heavy cost and resources burdens.

A new study that looked at major diseases and injuries in 188 countries covering the period between 1990 and 2013 has revealed that general health has improved globally. But healthy life expectancy increased by less: men gained 6.4 years and women gained 8.9 years. Individuals born in Lesotho and Swaziland in 2013 are expected to live about 10 fewer healthy years than those who were born two decades earlier.

The study also found stark differences between countries with the highest and lowest healthy life expectancies, and in the rates and direction of change.

People of Cambodia and Nicaragua showed gripping escalation between 1990 and 2013 with 13.9 and 14.7 years, respectively. Japan had the highest, at 73.4 years.

Nonetheless, Ethiopia was pin-pointed as one of the nations that have been giving massive efforts to make sure that their country people live both healthier and longer.

“The relative contribution of Ischemic heart disease to the disease burden in India has doubled over the past 25 years, making it the leading cause of health loss among both men and women in India presently”, said Dr K Srinath Reddy, President, PHFI and member of the GBD Scientific Council.

In the UK, the main causes of health loss were ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, depressive disorders, falls, lower back and neck pain, skin diseases and sense organ diseases.

One of the most important aspects of a longer life is access to good medical care.

In 1990, an average Chinese man lived till 66 years which has increased to nearly 74 years now. Ischemic heart disease, stroke, low back and neck pain, road injuries, and COPD have also caused an increasing amount of health loss since 1990.The impact of other ailments, such as diarrheal diseases, neonatal preterm birth complications, and lower respiratory infections, has significantly declined.

Owing to the deterioration of mortality and illness rates due to HIV/AIDS and malaria in the last ten years, health has enhanced to a great deal across the globe.

Italy, Spain, Norway, Switzerland and Israel showed the lowest rates of health loss.