The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published its findings on life expectancy in the USA for the year 2022. The figures show an increase on the previous year, but still remain low compared to 2019, the last year before the pandemic, and suffer in comparison to other well-off countries.
The basic news is that the average American can expect to live until the age of 77.5. In 2021, with Covid in full devastating effect, expectancy was more than a year less, but even without Covid US lives had been getting shorter since 2014.
Anyone with even half an eye on the news may be able to deduce that some of the causes of the relatively low life expectancy (the average Swede can expect to see her 83 birthday and beyond) are the opioid pandemic and the nonsensical attraction to guns and the carnage they are designed to create.
However, research published by the Washington Post also highlights the nation’s low figures can also be due to its tendency towards its indifference to social welfare, nationalized preventive medical care and a generally selfish attitude. The risible shibboleth of pulling oneself up by one’s bootlaces persists. Indeed, the research also highlights the widening gap in life expectancy between the poor and the rich. According to the report, in the 1980s those aged between 35 and 64 and living in the poorest parts of the country were 9% more likely to die than their peers in affluent areas. By the time of the pandemic that disparity had increased to an alarming 61%.
It may be hoped that these findings will be put to use by those who determine the course of the nation. Whether we live to see any positive changes remains to be seen.
The CDC’s published facts can be seen here FastStats – Life Expectancy (cdc.gov)
To read the Washington Post article this blog referenced you can go here: Life expectancy in U.S. is falling amid surges in chronic illness – Washington Post