Health News

New Study Pointed Out Most Nonmedical Factors Increasing Death Risk

The new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia, Canada, has suggested the 10 most common factors linked to death. The report was published in the PNAS journal.

The main goal of the research is to have a better understanding of life expectancy in the United States over the last three decades in comparison with other industrialized nations.

According to the author, the top 3 factors include alcohol abuse, divorce experience, and current smoking habits. Other remaining factors in the list include financial troubles, unemployment, a history of smoking, reduced life satisfaction, being not married, using food stamps, and negative affectivity.

A recent estimate of life expectancy in the United States showed a number of 78.6 years. The average figure for other developed countries is more than 82 years old. This indicates a lower gain in the country than other nations from 1980 to 2017.

Medical and biological factors are the main reasons for this trend. The important roles of behavioral, economic, psychological, and social factors in determining life expectancy are still unclear. Most of the studies on this subject are often conducted separately.

This study analyzed data from more than 13,600 people who participated in the Health and Retirement Study, which represents U.S. adults between 52 and 104 years old.

Scientists gathered the information from 1992 to 2008. 69.3 was the average age.

Results suggest lifelong effects of a lifestyle choice or a life event on life expectancy.

The main approach of the study is to take a look at possible long-term effects through a lifespan perspective.

The group of authors believes that insight from this study would be good guidance in determining where the country would improve and invest in the healthcare system.

If policymakers and public health experts try to make an effort and put more money on policy changes or interventions, they would possibly allow for the greatest return.

Take smoking and tobacco consumption as an example. Many studies have pointed out the increased risk of mortality in smokers over the past decades. By finding out the underlying reasons for this habit, it is much simpler to reduce the number by suggesting some intervention strategies.

In the same way, authorities can reduce the rate of mortality by target interventions for those people with financial difficulties or unemployed individuals.

Source:

https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/06/16/1918455117