Life Expectancy Rises, But Health Fails to Keep Pace: Study

The average global life expectancy has surged to 73.8 years over the past century, a significant achievement attributed to a sharp decline in infectious diseases, reduced maternal and child mortality, and advancements in chronic disease management. Despite this increase in longevity, the gains in healthy life years have not kept pace.

A study published in The Lancet Public Health, analyzing data from 204 countries and territories, found that in nearly all regions, the rise in life expectancy outstrips the improvement in the number of years lived in good health. This trend suggests that longer lives are increasingly accompanied by chronic illnesses and disabilities.

Researchers observed a concerning pattern: countries with the highest average life expectancies also report more years spent in poor health. This indicates that the extension of life is not merely shifting the period of illness to the very end but is prolonging the time individuals grapple with health problems throughout adulthood. In 2023, people spent an average of 14.5% of their lives in poor health. Wealthier nations saw individuals spend approximately 15.7% of their lives in ill health, while Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the smallest "morbidity gap" at around nine years.

The study identified non-fatal diseases as a major contributor, accounting for 57.4% of cases and extending periods of disability or reduced function. Musculoskeletal conditions, mental health disorders, and sensory organ diseases, including age-related hearing loss, were significant factors. In lower-income countries, malnutrition, respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases also contributed heavily to poor health.

Key risk factors identified include high body mass index (BMI), childhood and maternal malnutrition, smoking, elevated fasting blood glucose levels, and air pollution. Substance abuse was a top risk factor only in high-income countries, while risky sexual behavior was significant primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings underscore a critical need for health systems to shift their focus from merely extending lifespan to enhancing the quality of those additional years.