Americans face stark mortality gap compared to Europeans
Research shows that Americans, regardless of their wealth, have lower survival rates than Europeans. These differences are especially pronounced between the rich and poor in the U.S., while in Europe, the disparities are significantly smaller.
Scientists from the Brown University School of Public Health conducted studies revealing that Americans, regardless of their wealth, have lower survival rates than Europeans. The study included 73,000 people aged 50-85 from the U.S. and Europe, aiming to understand the impact of wealth on life expectancy. According to the study's authors, life expectancy in the U.S. has visibly declined in recent years. At every level of wealth, Americans have higher mortality rates than Europeans.
The study results indicate that over the past decade, Americans have faced a higher risk of death than Europeans. The wealthiest Americans lived shorter lives than their European counterparts, with survival rates comparable to the poorest residents of Western European countries such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
Prof. Irene Papanicolas, one of the study's authors, emphasized that even the wealthiest Americans are not shielded from systemic issues that lower life expectancy. These issues include economic inequalities and risk factors such as stress, diet, and environmental hazards.
Researchers also pointed out poorly functioning social insurance systems and significant structural inequalities in the U.S. The researchers noted that although they seemingly affect the poorest residents of the U.S., ultimately, they make even the richest more vulnerable to death.
Conclusions from the research
Scientists noted a visible "survival effect" in the U.S., where poorer individuals die earlier, causing older age groups to be dominated by wealthier individuals. This phenomenon creates the illusion of decreasing wealth inequalities with age.
In the U.S., wealth inequalities decrease after the age of 65 only because the poorest Americans die much earlier.
Prof. Papanicolas pointed out that the study's results should prompt American public health specialists to take action to reduce the gap between the rich and poor. The authors suggest that the U.S. should learn from other countries to improve its health system, focusing on factors affecting life expectancy.
