A recent study has revealed alarming statistics on when Americans are expected to die, based on their geographical location within the country.
In recent years, advancements in health services have contributed to an increase in life expectancy.
By 2022, the average lifespan for an American male was projected to be 74 years, while females had a higher expectancy of 80 years.
This disparity indicates that gender significantly influences longevity, a notion supported by numerous studies over time. Although some countries are experiencing a rise in life expectancy, certain US states have witnessed a decline in recent years.
The research, published in JAMA Network Open on April 28, delved into mortality data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.
They discovered that 179 million deaths had been recorded across all 50 states and Washington D.C.
An intriguing find was that the life expectancy for women in Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas decreased by one year from 1995 to 2020, whereas men did not experience any reduction during this timeframe.
In Mississippi, women’s life expectancy fell from 76 to 75, while in West Virginia, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Alabama, it similarly decreased from 77 to 76.
The study did not explore the causes of these unexpected declines, though the Mail Online suggests that Mississippi’s status as the poorest state in the US may be a factor.
Given the technological and healthcare advancements over the last 25 years, it is unsurprising to see a general increase in life expectancy.
For instance, the average lifespan of women in Hawaii rose from 74 in 1995 to 77 in 2020.
This upward trend is also observed in California, Minnesota, Colorado, and Utah, among other states.
Overall, the average life expectancy in the US has risen by ten percent for the younger generation compared to those born in the 1960s.
One limitation of the study is the lack of data on how the Covid pandemic may have influenced life expectancy.
Additionally, rising rates of obesity and diabetes in southern states have led to a lower population of younger adults in these areas.