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Life expectancy in England catches up with the west but poorest lag behind English life expectancy catches up with the west but poorest lag behind
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Life expectancy for the wealthiest in England has caught up with most comparable countries in the western world since 1990, but the health of people in the poorest regions is lagging behind, according to a major study.Life expectancy for the wealthiest in England has caught up with most comparable countries in the western world since 1990, but the health of people in the poorest regions is lagging behind, according to a major study.
In the first study of its kind, experts at Public Health England found 40% of ill health is caused by our lifestyles and predominantly by our diets. Smoking, alcohol and high blood pressure, which itself is influenced by obesity, cigarettes and poor diets, were also major factors. Although we are living longer, we are living less healthy lives, with many people suffering years of disability before they die.In the first study of its kind, experts at Public Health England found 40% of ill health is caused by our lifestyles and predominantly by our diets. Smoking, alcohol and high blood pressure, which itself is influenced by obesity, cigarettes and poor diets, were also major factors. Although we are living longer, we are living less healthy lives, with many people suffering years of disability before they die.
Many early deaths and much debilitating ill health could be prevented, said Prof John Newton, the chief knowledge officer at PHE and one of the authors of the research. He said: “England has done well over the past 23 years in many areas. But there is still plenty of room for bold action to reduce the significant toll of preventable conditions.Many early deaths and much debilitating ill health could be prevented, said Prof John Newton, the chief knowledge officer at PHE and one of the authors of the research. He said: “England has done well over the past 23 years in many areas. But there is still plenty of room for bold action to reduce the significant toll of preventable conditions.
“The country has done a good job preventing premature deaths but this has not been matched by declines in disability and illness, resulting in people living longer with disease. If the levels of health seen in the best performing English regions could be achieved in the worst, then England could have a level of overall disease burden as low as any country in the industrialised world.”“The country has done a good job preventing premature deaths but this has not been matched by declines in disability and illness, resulting in people living longer with disease. If the levels of health seen in the best performing English regions could be achieved in the worst, then England could have a level of overall disease burden as low as any country in the industrialised world.”
In 1990, men’s life expectancy in England was lagging behind that in many major western countries, including Canada, France, Norway, the Netherlands and Spain. By 2013, England was doing better than all those countries, with men living for an average of 79.5 years, a gain of 6.4 years. The gains for women were more modest but still good: the average national life expectancy increased by 4.4 years to 83.2 years), equalling or surpassing most of the 18 western nations including Australia, Norway, Canada and the US, except for Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and Portugal.In 1990, men’s life expectancy in England was lagging behind that in many major western countries, including Canada, France, Norway, the Netherlands and Spain. By 2013, England was doing better than all those countries, with men living for an average of 79.5 years, a gain of 6.4 years. The gains for women were more modest but still good: the average national life expectancy increased by 4.4 years to 83.2 years), equalling or surpassing most of the 18 western nations including Australia, Norway, Canada and the US, except for Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and Portugal.
But the data shows huge regional variations. The gap in life expectancy is not about geography but income. What looks like a north-south split is in fact about pockets of affluence and deprivation. In three regions, the south-east, east and south-west of England, men and women live longer and healthier lives than in Spain, Australia, Norway and Luxembourg. But north-west England trails Denmark and Greece and is not doing much better than Portugal and the US.But the data shows huge regional variations. The gap in life expectancy is not about geography but income. What looks like a north-south split is in fact about pockets of affluence and deprivation. In three regions, the south-east, east and south-west of England, men and women live longer and healthier lives than in Spain, Australia, Norway and Luxembourg. But north-west England trails Denmark and Greece and is not doing much better than Portugal and the US.
The research, published in the Lancet medical journal, is part of the Global Burden of Disease study, which collects data on deaths and disease from every country in the world. Public Health England analysed the data to establish how well England is doing by comparison with other nations and look at the variations around the country.The research, published in the Lancet medical journal, is part of the Global Burden of Disease study, which collects data on deaths and disease from every country in the world. Public Health England analysed the data to establish how well England is doing by comparison with other nations and look at the variations around the country.
Related: One in three baby girls in England will live to 90Related: One in three baby girls in England will live to 90
Death rates have come down largely thanks to the prevention and treatment of heart disease, strokes and cancer. But those who are kept alive may still suffer chronic ill health. Diabetes deaths are down by 56%, for instance, but the disability toll, which includes amputations and blindness, is up by 75% over the 23 years of the study.Death rates have come down largely thanks to the prevention and treatment of heart disease, strokes and cancer. But those who are kept alive may still suffer chronic ill health. Diabetes deaths are down by 56%, for instance, but the disability toll, which includes amputations and blindness, is up by 75% over the 23 years of the study.
Low back and neck pain, both of which may be connected with sedentary lifestyles, are the most common forms of ill health people suffer in the long term, with hearing and vision loss also in the top 10. Depression was the second biggest cause of ill health in women and the seventh in men.Low back and neck pain, both of which may be connected with sedentary lifestyles, are the most common forms of ill health people suffer in the long term, with hearing and vision loss also in the top 10. Depression was the second biggest cause of ill health in women and the seventh in men.
Prof Kevin Fenton from PHE said obesity and diet had to be tackled in a more proactive way, and action at national, local and individual level was required. A review looking at ways to improve the nation’s diet and increase the exercise we take is under way and should report before Christmas. He said: “We need a much more comprehensive approach to what we do on obesity. Two-thirds of the nation are overweight or obese.”Prof Kevin Fenton from PHE said obesity and diet had to be tackled in a more proactive way, and action at national, local and individual level was required. A review looking at ways to improve the nation’s diet and increase the exercise we take is under way and should report before Christmas. He said: “We need a much more comprehensive approach to what we do on obesity. Two-thirds of the nation are overweight or obese.”
Fenton said the review would look at fiscal measures, but would not be drawn on whether it may recommend a sugar tax, which the government has ruled out.Fenton said the review would look at fiscal measures, but would not be drawn on whether it may recommend a sugar tax, which the government has ruled out.
Newton said the causes of the inequalities across England “are deep-rooted and persistent and lie largely outside the health system”. PHE is working with Prof Sir Michael Marmot’s Institute of Health Equity, looking at the social determinants of ill health that can begin in childhood poverty and poor education.Newton said the causes of the inequalities across England “are deep-rooted and persistent and lie largely outside the health system”. PHE is working with Prof Sir Michael Marmot’s Institute of Health Equity, looking at the social determinants of ill health that can begin in childhood poverty and poor education.
Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, said the study showed “that we’ve recently done a better job of increasing life expectancy than most other European countries”.Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, said the study showed “that we’ve recently done a better job of increasing life expectancy than most other European countries”.
He said: “But the other half of the story is the clear benefits of now tackling the root cause of much of our preventable illness. Cutting down on junky diets, couch potato lifestyles, cigarettes and booze could make Britain one of the healthiest places to live in the world, while saving taxpayers billions on future NHS costs.”He said: “But the other half of the story is the clear benefits of now tackling the root cause of much of our preventable illness. Cutting down on junky diets, couch potato lifestyles, cigarettes and booze could make Britain one of the healthiest places to live in the world, while saving taxpayers billions on future NHS costs.”
Prof John Ashton, the president of the Faculty of Public Health, said: “Healthy life expectancy powerfully reflects our social environment: having a living wage, living in decent housing and eating healthy food. The shocking regional variations in healthy life expectancy dramatically demonstrate how these powerful factors that affect our health are controlled by national and local governments, rather than being a simple matter of individual choice.Prof John Ashton, the president of the Faculty of Public Health, said: “Healthy life expectancy powerfully reflects our social environment: having a living wage, living in decent housing and eating healthy food. The shocking regional variations in healthy life expectancy dramatically demonstrate how these powerful factors that affect our health are controlled by national and local governments, rather than being a simple matter of individual choice.
“We urgently need government to make peoples’ social environments healthier. Only government has the power to introduce measures like minimum unit pricing for alcohol, increase duties on tobacco, sugary drinks taxes and subsidies on fruit and veg. Such measures will empower councils and individuals to tackle the socio-economic reasons why there are ‘health haves’ and ‘have nots’.”“We urgently need government to make peoples’ social environments healthier. Only government has the power to introduce measures like minimum unit pricing for alcohol, increase duties on tobacco, sugary drinks taxes and subsidies on fruit and veg. Such measures will empower councils and individuals to tackle the socio-economic reasons why there are ‘health haves’ and ‘have nots’.”
Prof Peter Weissberg, the medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This study shows how successful the UK has been at reducing deaths from cardiovascular and other diseases through the application of research findings on behaviours such as diet and smoking to improve public health.Prof Peter Weissberg, the medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This study shows how successful the UK has been at reducing deaths from cardiovascular and other diseases through the application of research findings on behaviours such as diet and smoking to improve public health.
“But the burden of disease remains high in the most disadvantaged sectors of our society and our ageing population is increasingly facing multiple medical problems. Much would be gained if public health strategies could be devised to address this inequality and raise standards in all regions, to match those of the best regions in the UK.”“But the burden of disease remains high in the most disadvantaged sectors of our society and our ageing population is increasingly facing multiple medical problems. Much would be gained if public health strategies could be devised to address this inequality and raise standards in all regions, to match those of the best regions in the UK.”