Health & Medicine
Rich and Poor: Life Expectancy Gap Continues to Grow between Women 50 and Up
Kathleen Lees
First Posted: Sep 02, 2013 10:11 PM EDT
The World Health Organization notes that a gap in life expectancy between women in higher versus lower income countries continues to be growing more and more as time goes on.
In fact, a recent report shows that cardiovascular disease and cancers that are typically responsible for the death of women 50 and up are happening at an earlier age among younger women in poorer nations.
"The gap in life expectancy between such women in rich and poor countries is growing," said the WHO study, part of an issue of the WHO's monthly bulletin devoted to women's health.
For example, Reuters notes that an older women living in Germany can now expect to live to an average of 84, and in Japan, she can expect to live to 88. This means that both countries have a 3.5 year increase in life-span.
However, for Mexico and the Russian Federation, their life expectancy among women 50 years and up has decreased from a 2.4 increase to 1.4 years, placing life expectancy now at 78 years.
"More women can expect to live longer and not just survive child birth and childhood. But what we found is that improvement is much stronger in the rich world than in the poor world. The disparity between the two is increasing," Dr. John Beard, director of WHO's department of ageing and life course, said in an interview at WHO headquarters, via Reuters.
The study looked at the cause of death for women 50 years and older from various countries, specifically examining their need for increased prevention, detection and treatment involving disease in many nations.
Yet, regardless of economic development, study authors note that heart disease and stroke are the most common causes of death.
What do you think?
More information regarding the study can be found via the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.
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First Posted: Sep 02, 2013 10:11 PM EDT
The World Health Organization notes that a gap in life expectancy between women in higher versus lower income countries continues to be growing more and more as time goes on.
In fact, a recent report shows that cardiovascular disease and cancers that are typically responsible for the death of women 50 and up are happening at an earlier age among younger women in poorer nations.
"The gap in life expectancy between such women in rich and poor countries is growing," said the WHO study, part of an issue of the WHO's monthly bulletin devoted to women's health.
For example, Reuters notes that an older women living in Germany can now expect to live to an average of 84, and in Japan, she can expect to live to 88. This means that both countries have a 3.5 year increase in life-span.
However, for Mexico and the Russian Federation, their life expectancy among women 50 years and up has decreased from a 2.4 increase to 1.4 years, placing life expectancy now at 78 years.
"More women can expect to live longer and not just survive child birth and childhood. But what we found is that improvement is much stronger in the rich world than in the poor world. The disparity between the two is increasing," Dr. John Beard, director of WHO's department of ageing and life course, said in an interview at WHO headquarters, via Reuters.
The study looked at the cause of death for women 50 years and older from various countries, specifically examining their need for increased prevention, detection and treatment involving disease in many nations.
Yet, regardless of economic development, study authors note that heart disease and stroke are the most common causes of death.
What do you think?
More information regarding the study can be found via the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone