News

Life expectancy is decreasing for some of England's poorest women

Public Health England reports that rising cases of preventable illnesses like heart disease and strokes are limiting lives

Life expectancy for some of the poorest women in the UK has decreased amid widening inequality in England.

Those in the poorest areas have seen less improvement in life expectancy than those in the wealthiest, according to a new Public Health England (PHE) report, while the most deprived women have seen their life expectancy actually decrease.

Between 2014 and 2016, the life expectancy gap was 9.3 years between the most affluent and most deprived men while it was 7.3 years for women.

Life expectancy rises on the whole has slowed since peaking in 2011. Between 2011 and 2016, increases for men and women were at 0.4 and 0.1 years respectively, down from 1.6 and 1.3 in the previous five years.

PHE has targeted preventable illnesses as the main reason behind the slowdown. And they have put out a call to action to address smoking, obesity and high blood pressure to slash the number of people suffering from premature heart attacks and strokes – 80 per cent of which are considered avoidable.

However, mortality rates from dementia have increased – potentially due to changes in diagnosis – making it the leading cause of death for women and it is set to take the spot for men too, on course to overtake heart disease. Winter flu deaths also rose.

Professor John Newton, director of health improvement at PHE, said: “With the number of people aged 85 years and over set to increase, we’re likely to see the burden of dementia and many other long-term conditions follow suit.

“The solution to reversing these trends will be complex as the causes themselves are not straightforward. What comes out loud and clear from the evidence is the potential for effective prevention activity, particularly for heart disease, to improve health outcomes and reduce the enormous disparities in life expectancy.”

Public Health England are not the only ones to issue a call to action to tackle preventable diseases – Big Issue founder John Bird made a similar call to help reduce the strain on the NHS with his pledge earlier this year.

King’s Fund senior fellow Dr Veena Raleigh has also called for preventative action after revealing that the life expectancy slowdown only bettered the United States when put head-to-head with 20 comparable countries.

“It is particularly worrying that life expectancy is falling in more deprived parts of the country, further widening health inequalities between rich and poor areas,” said Dr Raleigh. “It is also very troubling that deaths from causes such as suicide and drug overdoses are rising among young adults.

“After several years of debate, we now have some clear pointers about what is causing life expectancy in England to stall. While further research must continue at pace, action to reverse these worrying trends is urgently needed to avoid the United Kingdom sliding further down international league tables.”

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

View all
Will free school meals and vouchers be offered over the Easter holidays?
Free school meals/ Easter holidays
Free school meals

Will free school meals and vouchers be offered over the Easter holidays?

Leaked letter to Tory MPs reveals renting reforms will be 'watered down' to 'appease landlords'
Renters Reform Bill
RENTING

Leaked letter to Tory MPs reveals renting reforms will be 'watered down' to 'appease landlords'

Council tax is going up for millions in April. Here's what to do if you're struggling to pay
council tax/ houses
Cost of living crisis

Council tax is going up for millions in April. Here's what to do if you're struggling to pay

Water bills are going up in April 2024. Here's what to do if you're struggling to pay
Cost of living crisis

Water bills are going up in April 2024. Here's what to do if you're struggling to pay

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know