Life expectancy: How can we address uneven declines?

Not long ago, during pre-pandemic 2019, the reported life expectancy at birth for non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic populations was approximately 75, 79, and 82 years, respectively. The higher life expectancy of Hispanic people compared to others in the United States may come as a surprise to some. This phenomenon, known as the “Hispanic paradox,” was first noted in the 1980s, and its legitimacy has been debated since. A host of explanations have been proposed, including hypotheses about the “healthy immigrant” (people who migrate to the US are healthier than those who stay in their native countries) and “salmon bias” (less healthy US immigrants are more likely to return to their countries of origin). Other experts note that Hispanic communities have lower rates of smoking and greater levels of social cohesion, which certainly may contribute to their presumed higher life expectancy. In the end, this difference remains poorly understood, and is further complicated by research noting US-born Hispanic individuals may have lower life expectancy compared to their foreign-born counterparts. Now, recent estimates for life expectancy from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show an alarming change that highlights the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on communities of color. Between 2019 and 2020, life expectancy dropped more sharply among Black and Hispanic populations compared to their White counterparts, by three years, two ye...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Coronavirus and COVID-19 Health Health care disparities Health trends Healthy Aging Source Type: blogs