Globally, life expectancy of people has increased by a decade since 1980, to 69 years for men and 74.8 years for women in 2015, according to an overview of global health.
The Global Burden of Disease study found that the extra years due to a sharp drop in deaths from communicable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and diarrhea.
Air Pollution Reducing Life Expectancy by Two Years In China
Beijing is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Unchecked growth of industries and factories over the past two decades has led to massive pollution in China.
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‘Life expectancy had increased in 191 of 195 countries between 1990 and 2015. But people are living more years with illness and disability.’
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Despite population increases, combined mortality from HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis — both major killers — fell by more than a quarter, from 3.1 million in 2005 to 2.3 million in 2015.
The study also found that the number of people dying from cardiovascular disease and cancers has also decreased, but at a slower pace. The study analyzed 249 causes of death, 315 diseases and injuries and 79 risk factors in 195 countries and territories between 1990 and 2015.
![Life Expectancy Increases Among Treated HIV-Positive Patients]( "Life Expectancy Increases Among Treated HIV-Positive Patients")
In the U.S. or Canada, a 20-year-old HIV-positive adult on antiretroviral therapy (ART) may be expected to live into their early 70's, a life expectancy approaching that of the general population.
Annual deaths due to diarrhea decreased by 20 percent and malaria mortality has reduced by a third, from 1.2 million in 2005 to 730,000 last year. The life expectancy increased in 188 of 195 countries and territories.
Between the years 2005 and 2015, non-communicable diseases (cancer, heart disease and stroke) claimed more lives, with the death toll rising from 35 million in 2005 to 39 million in 2015.
Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, said its results painted a picture of patchy health gains across the world, driven in part by economic development.
"Development drives, but does not determine health. We see countries that have improved far faster than can be explained by income, education or fertility. And we also continue to see countries - including the United States - that are far less healthy than they should be given their resources," he added.
"As we live longer, the burden of non-communicable diseases is rising — along with the attendant costs of treatment," said Kevin Watkins, head of Save the Children UK.
The study is published in The Lancet.
Source: Medindia
Life Expectancy Increases Among Treated HIV-Positive Patients
In the U.S. or Canada, a 20-year-old HIV-positive adult on antiretroviral therapy (ART) may be expected to live into their early 70's, a life expectancy approaching that of the general population.
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Annual deaths due to diarrhea decreased by 20 percent and malaria mortality has reduced by a third, from 1.2 million in 2005 to 730,000 last year. The life expectancy increased in 188 of 195 countries and territories.
Between the years 2005 and 2015, non-communicable diseases (cancer, heart disease and stroke) claimed more lives, with the death toll rising from 35 million in 2005 to 39 million in 2015.
Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, said its results painted a picture of patchy health gains across the world, driven in part by economic development.
"Development drives, but does not determine health. We see countries that have improved far faster than can be explained by income, education or fertility. And we also continue to see countries - including the United States - that are far less healthy than they should be given their resources," he added.
"As we live longer, the burden of non-communicable diseases is rising — along with the attendant costs of treatment," said Kevin Watkins, head of Save the Children UK.
The study is published in The Lancet.
Source: Medindia
China's Life Expectancy Rises, but Health Inequalities Between Provinces Remain
These gains in life expectancy seen across China have been thought to be linked to increasing GDP and improved maternal education.
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 Life Expectancy in Tibet Is Expected to RiseThe average life expectancy in Tibet was 68.2 years in 2013, up from 35.5 years before the Chinese takeover in 1951, now it is expected to rise to 70 years. | Advertisement
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