Life Expectancy Rise in Europe Slows Down – Greece, UK Record Highest Declines: Lancet Medical Journal

The rise of life expectancy across Europe has been decreasing since 2011, with Greece and the UK recording the highest declines, according to a review by the Lancet Medical Journal.

Researchers analyzed data from 16 European Economic Area countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden) as well as the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) across three periods: 1990-2011, 2011-2019, and 2019-2021.

Regarding Greece, the findings of the study by the prestigious journal indicated the most significant decline was observed between 2019 and 2021 (-0.61 years), the highest among all examined countries. While the negative trends compared to the rest of Europe in the decline are primarily attributed to COVID-19 infections during the pandemic, Greece also saw an increase in deaths from cancer.

A closer look at the study reveals that from 2011 onward, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol either increased or stopped improving in nearly all countries. Moreover, during 2019-2021, the pandemic further contributed to declining life expectancy.

Poor diet and lack of physical activity are seen as key factors contributing to the negative trend.

Notably, countries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Belgium have managed to maintain positive trends in longevity, a success linked to government policies. In Greece, efforts to improve preventive healthcare have been gaining momentum. Since June 2022, when the “Fofi Gennimata” program for breast cancer prevention was launched, additional free screening programs have gradually been implemented, with the country also focusing on tackling obesity.

Source: tovima.com