Across the world, people are experiencing longer lifespans but not necessarily enjoying better health, as highlighted by research from the Mayo Clinic. A comprehensive study involving 183 World Health Organization (WHO) member nations reveals that these extra years are increasingly burdened with illness. The research, led by Andre Terzic, M.D., Ph.D., and Armin Garmany, uncovers a significant disparity between the duration of life and the quality of health, with their findings published in JAMA Network Open.
Dr Terzic, the senior researcher, points out that while people live longer, these additional years are not accompanied by a corresponding increase in healthy, disease-free life. “The data clearly illustrate that an increase in healthy years has not parallelled the extension in life expectancy. Ageing is becoming synonymous with an extended period of living with diseases,” he explains. This issue raises concerns about the declining quality of life with age and emphasizes the urgent need for healthcare policies to address the increasing divergence between lifespan and health span.
Dr. Terzic holds prestigious positions within the Mayo Clinic, including the Marriott Family Director of Comprehensive Cardiac Regenerative Medicine at the Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics and the Marriott Family Professor of Cardiovascular Research.
The discrepancy between life expectancy and healthy years lived is most pronounced in the United States. According to WHO data, from 2000 to 2019, life expectancy for women rose from 79.2 to 80.7 years and men from 74.1 to 76.3 years. However, the duration of life spent in good health has not seen a similar improvement. By 2019, the average global gap between lifespan and health span reached 9.6 years, marking a 13% increase since the start of the millennium.
Particularly in the U.S., this gap is the largest globally, with Americans spending an average of 12.4 years of their life dealing with disability and chronic illness, up from 10.9 years in 2000. This increase coincides with America reporting the highest incidence of chronic diseases. Mental health issues, substance abuse, and musculoskeletal disorders are among the primary health burdens.
The study also highlights a significant gender disparity in health outcomes worldwide. Women face a 2.4-year more significant disparity between lifespan and health span compared to men, with neurological, musculoskeletal, and urinary-genital tract disorders contributing to extended periods of ill health among women.
Armin Garmany, the study’s lead author and a dual M.D./Ph.D. candidate at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, advocates for a shift towards proactive, wellness-focused healthcare systems. “This growing gap requires us to rethink our healthcare approaches, focusing on preventive measures and tailoring interventions to the specific health challenges of different regions and populations,” he asserts. This strategic shift is vital for narrowing the global health lifespan gap and improving overall health outcomes.
More information: Armin Garmany et al, Global Healthspan-Lifespan Gaps Among 183 World Health Organization Member States, JAMA Network Open. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.50241
Journal information: JAMA Network Open Provided by Mayo Clinic
