Public Health Wales recently published the 'Life Expectancy & Mortality in Wales (2020)' report which highlights the changes in life expectancy, healthy life expectancy and mortality rates over time in Wales.
Key findings from the report are as follows:
- Since 2010-2012, life expectancy has increased by a mere 0.2 and 0.1 years for males and females, respectively. Between 2001-2003 and 2010-2012, the increases were 2.6 and 2 years for males and females, respectively.
- The all-cause mortality rate declined by almost 20 per cent between 2002 and 2011; however, it has changed very little since 2011.
- There has been a slight widening of the gap in mortality rates between deprivation quintiles in recent years.
- For both sexes, individuals aged 60-84 years were the primary contributors to increasing life expectancy; however, the improvements seem to have slowed down considerably between the periods studied.
- Improvements in circulatory disease mortality have slowed down, and its contribution to increasing life expectancy has been halved.
- Increased mortality from respiratory disease, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease have contributed negatively to the improvement in life expectancy.
Dr Kirsty Little, Consultant in Public Health, said: "This publication highlights an important shift in life expectancy and mortality trends in recent times. Worryingly, the publication also indicates that health inequalities may have increased in recent times too."
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