We live longer – but do we live healthier?

A baby born today will likely live several decades longer than a baby born 100 years ago.

This is due to medical advances and other modern technology, like indoor plumbing, that have reduced life-threatening diseases.

The result is a longer lifespan, but what about our health-span: do we enjoy good health in these “bonus” years?

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association looks for the answer. And guess what? As usual, “it depends”. There is good news and bad news, and it depends on where you live.

How do you plan to spend your "bonus" years?

Before we dive into the study, let’s define some terms.

Health-adjusted life expectancy is the number of years someone is expected to live free of disease and disability.

Overall life expectancy is the average amount of time a person is expected to live, regardless of health or disability status.

Researchers from Mayo Clinic analyzed publicly available health data from 2000 through 2019, reported to the World Health Organization from 183 countries, to calculate a health-to-lifespan gap; that is, the difference between overall life expectancy and health-adjusted life expectancy.

The study found that worldwide overall life expectancy increased faster than health-adjusted life expectancy, meaning we’re spending more of our added years in poor health.

In numbers, the average gap increased from 8.5 years in 2000 to 9.6 years in 2019.

Here’s where the good news/bad news comes in: the most significant health-to-lifespan gaps were observed in relatively wealthy, developed countries, with the largest gap right here in the US.

In 2019, the average person in the US with a lifespan of 79 had a healthspan of around 66. (So much for the fun retirement you had planned.)

It’s not all good news for the countries with the smallest gaps, as these countries tend to be developing countries with shorter overall lifespans. While they spend fewer years in poor health, people in these countries tend to die younger. And they are more likely to die from communicable diseases and health conditions that have been eradicated or controlled by more advanced, reliable health care. Lifespan and healthspan is likely to increase in these countries as economic conditions and access to advanced medical care improve.

The news is trending in the other direction in the US. As noted, the study concluded in 2019. Since then, both lifespan and healthspan have decreased in the US, to around 76 and 64 respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic was obviously a big factor in this. Plus, unlike poorer, undeveloped countries, in the US and other wealthy nations a vast majority of deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases, like heart disease, Alzheimer’s and COPD. People with these conditions tend to live for many years in poor health.

So, what can we do about this? While I’m sure there are still plenty of people who adhere to the philosophy of “live hard, die young and leave a good-looking corpse”, I’d like to think most of us will continue to accept the extra years of life we’ve been afforded through advanced medical care. We don’t want to just continue to exist, but to live and enjoy all the years we have.

How do we make this happen? I think you know the answer, but it bears repeating: better nutrition, regular physical activity, adequate rest and recovery, stress management – all the healthy lifestyle habits are recommended because they work. They reduce the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s and other chronic conditions that negatively impact our quality of life.

And it’s never too late to start. Even if you’ve already been diagnosed with a health problem, adopting healthier lifestyle habits can mitigate the effects.

Hiring a coach can help. If you’re overwhelmed by the options, or don’t know where to start, or think you need more “willpower” to make a change, please reach out to me. I would love to be your partner on your journey to a fuller, more vibrant life.

References

1. Garmany A, Terzic A. Global healthspan-lifespan gaps among 183 World Health Organization member states. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Dec 2;7(12):e2450241.