Scientists have pointed to an increasing gap between longevity and a healthy life.
In recent decades, the average life expectancy in many countries of the world has increased significantly due to the development of medicine, improved diagnostics and improved quality of life. However, a new international study by The Lancet Public Health magazine has shown that extra years do not always mean good health. Scientists have found out that the gap between the total life expectancy and the period that a person spends without serious illnesses continues to increase, and especially noticeably among women. About why researchers consider this trend to be one of the main problems of modern healthcare and whether it is possible to change the situation, see the Izvestia article.
Not only to live longer, but also to stay healthy: what the study showed
Modern medicine has allowed people to live much longer than they did a few decades ago. However, as a new international study shows, an increase in life expectancy is not always accompanied by the same increase in the period of healthy life. The authors concluded that in many countries around the world, people are spending more and more years with chronic diseases, disabilities, or other conditions that significantly reduce their quality of life.
In their work, the researchers used data from the Global Burden of Disease project, one of the largest international studies on the causes of mortality and the prevalence of diseases. The analysis covered the health indicators of the population in many countries and allowed us to compare not only life expectancy (lifespan), but also the so—called healthy life expectancy (healthspan) - the period that a person lives without serious restrictions related to diseases.
The main conclusion turned out to be alarming: in recent decades, people have indeed begun to live longer, but additional years are increasingly accompanied by deterioration in health. In other words, medicine is increasingly helping to prevent premature death, but it is not always able to delay the development of chronic diseases characteristic of the elderly. That is why the gap between the total life expectancy and the period spent in good health continues to widen.
The authors of the study emphasize that we are not talking about individual diagnoses, but about the cumulative effect of various chronic conditions. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, oncological diseases, dementia, disorders of the musculoskeletal system and other age-related diseases can affect the duration of a healthy life. Even if modern medicine can successfully control many of them and prolong the patient's life, the quality of these additional years may vary significantly.
Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Indicators and Assessment at the University of Washington School of Medicine and senior author of the study
Our findings suggest that future improvements in public health will be achieved not only by increasing life expectancy, but also by improving health. Progress in healthy aging should be measured not only by life expectancy, but also by the period of healthy health, with increased investments in prevention, long-term treatment of diseases and care of chronic patients to reduce years spent in poor health.
Previously, an increase in average life expectancy was considered the main indicator of success, but today more and more attention needs to be paid to how many years a person is able to maintain activity, independence and a high quality of life. That is why the indicator of healthy life expectancy is becoming no less important than the traditional expected duration.
Why do women live longer but spend more years with diseases
One of the most notable findings of the study was the differences between men and women. Although women in almost all regions of the world continue to have a higher life expectancy, they are more likely to face a longer period of life, accompanied by chronic diseases and health limitations. In other words, an advantage in longevity does not always mean an advantage in the number of healthy years.
According to the results of the study, the global gap between total life expectancy and healthy life expectancy averages about 9.6 years. At the same time, this indicator was about 2.4 years higher for women than for men. The authors note that this trend requires special attention, as it means an increase in the number of people who need medical care, long-term care and social support in old age.
The researchers explain that this difference is probably due to several factors at once. Women are more likely to experience diseases that rarely become the direct cause of death, but significantly worsen their quality of life. We are talking, for example, about diseases of the musculoskeletal system, some neurological disorders and conditions associated with aging of the body. Thanks to the achievements of modern medicine, many of these diseases can be successfully controlled, but they continue to limit daily human activity.
The authors of the study emphasize that the problem is not limited solely to questions of biology. The aging of the population means an increased burden on health and social care systems: the need for rehabilitation, long-term care, preventive programs and support for people with chronic diseases is increasing. Therefore, it is no longer enough to evaluate the success of medicine only by average life expectancy. It is important to understand how long a person retains the ability to live independently and lead an active lifestyle.
Is it possible to reduce the gap between life and health
According to the authors of the study, one of the main conclusions of the work should be a change in the priorities of modern medicine. Previously, efforts were primarily aimed at reducing mortality and increasing life expectancy, but now the task of prolonging the period of healthy life is becoming increasingly important. This means that disease prevention should begin long before the first symptoms appear, and not just when the disease has already developed.
Researchers believe that special attention should be paid to risk factors that are directly related to the development of chronic diseases. Among them are poor nutrition, insufficient physical activity, smoking, alcohol abuse, sleep disorders and other lifestyle features. Although these factors are well known, they largely determine how many years a person can live without serious health restrictions.
In addition, the authors of the work urge the health care system to actively prepare for the aging of the population. In their opinion, this is not only about the development of medical care, but also about creating conditions for healthy aging: affordable prevention, early detection programs, high-quality rehabilitation and support for people who are already living with chronic conditions. This approach will not only increase life expectancy, but also preserve its quality.
The study once again shows that the concepts of "living longer" and "living healthier" do not always coincide. Modern medicine has already learned how to significantly prolong human life, but the next important step should be to increase the number of years that people can spend without serious illnesses and loss of independence. According to scientists, this indicator may become one of the main benchmarks for healthcare systems around the world in the coming years.
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