The terms ‘mortality rate’ and ‘life expectancy’ are often used interchangeably but have entirely different meanings.
Mortality rates refer to the number of deaths in a specific ‘population’ related to a particular causation(s). The ‘population’ may consist of a whole nation, an ethnic group, an age group (generation) or gender group, a social grouping, or a lifestyle grouping. For example, the percentage of older adults dying from COVID-related diseases is higher than in other groups (populations).
Life expectancy, on the other hand, defines the average number of years (time) an individual (or population, as above) would expect to live at any given point in their life(s). For example, a female child’s life expectancy at birth is 79.3 years, and for a male child, 73.2 years. A woman at 60 could, on average, live another 23.7 years, i.e., to age 83.7. At the same age, a man could expect to live to 82.1 years of age. The numbers above are from the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. Life Expectancy by State 2024 (worldpopulationreview.com)
Why are these numbers important?
The examples given are averages for the entire population of the USA (77.5) (National Vital Statistics Report, published in November 2023 for 2021.)
The same report also includes the CDC publishes the same expectation of life numbers for the ethnic groups: Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Black, and White. Asian Americans have a slightly above average life expectancy (83.5), Black Americans marginally lower (74.8)
Similar CDC data show the life expectancy in each US state. Of the contiguous states, Washington, Minnesota, California, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire all have a life expectancy of over 79 years. At the other end of the scale, Kentucky, Alabama, Louisiana, West Virginia, and Mississippi have life expectancy rates of 73.5 years or less. Life Expectancy by State 2024 (worldpopulationreview.com).
Life expectancy is vital in assessing the nation’s health and the health-related policies and initiatives that affect our everyday lives and well-being. Because the data are available at the state level, it is possible to tailor initiatives, e.g., budgets, care services, and health insurance benefits, to individual state needs and compare the outcomes of their programs with each other. At a more mundane level, life insurance premiums are based (among other things) on life expectancy.
What do mortality rates and life expectancy figures tell us?
The numbers are important because they provide an internationally accepted statistical measure of most countries’ average remaining years of life at any given age. We can compare the relative health of countries of similar wealth, size, and development. We can compare the levels of investment in healthcare in other geographies and the associated outcomes. For example, although the US spends more on healthcare than any other nation, it does not have the highest life expectancy. If we rank 201 countries (using 2021 data) according to life expectancy (male/female), we find Japan in third place (84.45 yes), Switzerland in fourth place (83.85yrs), Australia in eighth place (83.3 yrs), the UK in 31st place (80.7 yrs), and USA 58th place (76.33 yrs). (World Bank Group)
How do the numbers affect you?
The answer is that simply knowing these numbers will change nothing but may cause you to consider some of your lifestyle choices. Life expectancy is based on three major groups of factors: genetics, location (environment), and lifestyle choices.
GENETICS
As the numbers above indicate, there are differences in the life expectancy rates between ethnic groups, genders, and additionally, individuals with a close relative(s) who have a history of cancer, coronary, or neurodegenerative conditions. If you are, or suspect you are, at risk from any of these conditions, you should contact your healthcare provider.
LOCATION (ENVIRONMENT)
It is attractive to imagine that moving from one state to another will increase your life expectancy. Simply moving home will not increase your lifespan. The critical consideration is your access to quality healthcare. If you or a member of your family suffers from a respiratory condition, you may consider relocating to an area with better air quality and lower exposure to toxins.
LIFESTYLE CHOICES
Your lifestyle choices will only have an infinitesimal effect on your state and federal life expectancy tables, but they will extend your personal (and your family’s) longevity.
This is not a lifestyle ‘101’. It is an encouragement to look further and act.
Lifestyle choices that affect longevity include an unhealthy diet, inadequate exercise, tobacco use, excessive use of alcohol, recreational drug use, high-risk activities (work, recreation), food hygiene safety, workplace safety, and motor vehicle safety.
Of these, the major lifestyle factor that affects mortality is obesity; more than 40% of the US population is considered obese compared with about 30% in 1999. Over 70 percent of US adults and 30% of children are overweight today and around 30% of children. (CDC, Adult Obesity Facts, reviewed 2022)
It may not be easy, but addressing just one thing on this list could add years to your life. You might even save money. Medical costs for obese adults are $2000 more than the medical costs for those with a healthy weight.
