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Life expectancy for women in the most disadvantaged areas of England is down, according to new research.
Previous research has shown that the life expectancy of people living in richer areas was greater than that of people living in poorer areas, but researchers found that the gap was widening, experts said. arguing that preventable and treatable diseases were disappearing as a result of increasing poverty.
According to the team, the growing gap is likely due to a combination of factors, including the relatively high price of a healthy diet and the difficulties of access to health care, factors exacerbated by problems such as the economy of the show and the policies of austerity.
"We should measure a policy by its impacts on inequality," said Majid Ezzati, co-author of the study and professor of global environmental health at Imperial College London, adding that reforms such as the universal credit had contributed to increased poverty.
This year, researchers found that British women had a shorter life expectancy than in countries such as Spain, France and Greece. On the other hand, figures from the Office for National Statistics have recently revealed that progress in life expectancy has been declining for both men and women in England and has declined in Scotland and the United Kingdom. in Wales.
The authors of the latest study say their findings underscore the importance of looking beyond reality. "Once again, it's about … not noticing what happens to the poorest until it starts to appear average," Ezzati said.
Professor Alan Walker of the University of Sheffield, who did not participate in the work, said the poorest paid the government's austerity with their lives.
"Although these results are shocking, they are unfortunately not surprising since, as the United Nations rapporteur on poverty and human rights has just pointed out, the British government has adopted a policy aimed at the eight plus poor years, "he said. "We are all in the same boat" has always been a cruel joke. "
life expectancy chart of women
In Lancet Public Health, Ezzati and colleagues describe how they analyzed official data on the 7.65 million deaths in England between 2001 and 2016, as well as 2015 data in which the country was divided into 33,000 small areas and then divided into 10 equal groups based on deprivation. In general, the most disadvantaged areas have been found in urban areas in the north, the West Midlands and parts of London.
The findings reveal that in 2001, women living in the poorest tenth of England had a life expectancy at birth 6.1 years lower than those in the richest tenth, but that the average life expectancy at birth was 6.1 years. the gap was further widened to 7.9 years in 2016, while those in the richest regions are expected to live at 86.7 years, compared with 78.8 years the most disadvantaged. A similar trend was observed among men, with the gap in life expectancy between the richest and poorest areas widening from nine years to about 9.8 years in the same period.
"After becoming aware of their age, [those in] poor people [communities] Murder of all diseases at a higher rate than that of the rich, "said Ezzati, adding that the gap was fueled in particular by conditions such as heart disease, respiratory diseases, lung cancer, dementia and deaths among very young children.
However, while overall life expectancy increased for both the rich and the poor between 2001 and 2016, but more so for the wealthiest areas, between 2011 and 2016, it actually declined for women in The poorest 20% of the country, the group of the poorest having decreased almost three months.
life expectancy chart of men
The team said the findings were likely based on a number of factors, including the fact that public health initiatives may have been more accessible to the rich, and that people living in more disadvantaged areas may be struggling. find time and money to access health care, wait times are longer and the supply is worse.
The team also found cuts in smoking cessation services and funding problems in the delivery of social services – which means that those who can afford private care get better results for chronic diseases such as: that dementia.
At the same time, they add that the cost of healthy food has increased, while families are finding it increasingly difficult to manage financially because they are increasingly dependent on food banks.
"Some of these things are what people call a lifestyle, but we would tend to think of it as a lifestyle to which people are cornered," said Ezzati.
The team called for price policies and regulations for alcohol and foods high in salt, sugar and certain fats and said that healthy foods should be made more affordable.
Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, President of the Royal College of GPs, described the situation as ridiculous.
"There are a myriad of factors involved in determining life expectancy – lifestyle factors, diet and socioeconomic status, for example – that can all be inextricably linked. But patients' access to healthcare is also essential and should not be based on their postal code, "she said.
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