In all groups, previous declines in mortality due to COVID explained more than 80% of the increases in life expectancy
U.S. babies born in 2022 gained roughly a year in life expectancy compared with babies born a year earlier, federal data showed on Wednesday, marking progress after two consecutive years of declines largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Life expectancy at birth for newborns in 2022 will be 77. 5 years, up from 76. 4 years in 2021, but still lower than the 78. 8 years projected for those born in 2019, according to data from the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U. S.
It will be “some time before we get back to where we were in 2019, before the pandemic,” said Elizabeth Arias, a CDC researcher who worked on the report.
The study estimated the life expectancy of young children if mortality at birth persisted throughout their lives.
“There have been effects everywhere. . . all groups, across race and gender, have noticed an increase in their life expectancy,” Arias said.
Life expectancy increased by as much as 2021 for non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native newborns, up to 2. 3 years, from 65. 6 to 67. 9, followed by a 2. 2-year increase for newborns. born Hispanic from 77. 8 to 80.
Black non-Hispanic Americans, who were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, had life expectancy increase by 1.6 years, from 71.2 to 72.8, resulting primarily from decreases in mortality due to COVID-19, followed by declines in deaths from heart disease, homicide, diabetes, and cancer.
Life expectancy is higher up to one year for non-Hispanic Asian babies, up to 84. 5 years, and up to 0. 8 years for non-Hispanic white babies, up to 77. 5 years.
Across all groups, previous declines in COVID mortality accounted for more than 80% of the increase in life expectancy, the report found.
Declines in deaths from heart disease, unintentional injuries, cancer, and homicide also contributed to longer life expectancy overall, but their impact varied.
In the Alaska Indian and Alaska Native population and in the Hispanic population, for example, the increase in life expectancy would have been greater if the increase in mortality from unintentional injuries had been compensated.
Improvements in the life expectancy of non-Hispanic black young children were offset by increased mortality due to perinatal conditions, birth defects, kidney disease, nutritional deficiencies, and legal intervention, referring to deaths from injuries inflicted by the police or other law enforcement agencies. officials.
As usual, life expectancy remains longer for females. In 2020, the difference between the sexes reached 6 years, a level not seen since 1996. In 2022, that gap had narrowed to 5.4 years, down from 5.8 years in 2021.
The data for 2022 is provisional, meaning it is subject to replacement and has several limitations, adding a difference in the submission of death certificates across some jurisdictions.
(Reporting via Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; editing via Nancy Lapid and Bill Berkrot)
Disclaimer: The content of this article is syndicated or provided to this website from an external third party provider. We are not responsible for, and do not control, such external websites, entities, applications or media publishers. The body of the text is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither we nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this article. Read our full disclaimer policy here.
Get exclusive, financial information and content you can trust, delivered to your inbox.