Please note: In order to keep Hive up to date and provide users with the best features, we are no longer able to fully support Internet Explorer. The site is still available to you, however some sections of the site may appear broken. We would encourage you to move to a more modern browser like Firefox, Edge or Chrome in order to experience the site fully.

Supporting your high street Find out how »
Explaining Divergent Levels of Longevity in High-Income Countries, Paperback / softback Book

Explaining Divergent Levels of Longevity in High-Income Countries Paperback / softback

Edited by Barney Cohen, Samuel H. Preston, Eileen M. Crimmins

Paperback / softback

Available to Order - This title is available to order, with delivery expected within 2 weeks

Description

During the last 25 years, life expectancy at age 50 in the United States has been rising, but at a slower pace than in many other high-income countries, such as Japan and Australia.

This difference is particularly notable given that the United States spends more on health care than any other nation.

Concerned about this divergence, the National Institute on Aging asked the National Research Council to examine evidence on its possible causes. According to Explaining Divergent Levels of Longevity in High-Income Countries, the nation's history of heavy smoking is a major reason why lifespans in the United States fall short of those in many other high-income nations.

Evidence suggests that current obesity levels play a substantial part as well.

The book reports that lack of universal access to health care in the U.S. also has increased mortality and reduced life expectancy, though this is a less significant factor for those over age 65 because of Medicare access.

For the main causes of death at older ages-cancer and cardiovascular disease-available indicators do not suggest that the U.S. health care system is failing to prevent deaths that would be averted elsewhere.

In fact, cancer detection and survival appear to be better in the U.S. than in most other high-income nations, and survival rates following a heart attack also are favorable. Explaining Divergent Levels of Longevity in High-Income Countries identifies many gaps in research.

For instance, while lung cancer deaths are a reliable marker of the damage from smoking, no clear-cut marker exists for obesity, physical inactivity, social integration, or other risks considered in this book.

Moreover, evaluation of these risk factors is based on observational studies, which-unlike randomized controlled trials-are subject to many biases. Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 Difference Between Life Expectancy in the United States and OtherHigh-Income Countries2 Causes of Death, Health Indicators, and Divergence in LifeExpectancy3 The Role of Obesity4 The Role of Physical Activity5 The Role of Smoking6 The Role of Social Networks and Social Integration7 The Role of Health Care8 The Role of Hormone Therapy9 The Role of Inequality10 ConclusionsReferencesBiographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff

Information

Other Formats

Save 11%

£33.00

£29.25

Available to Order - This title is available to order, with delivery expected within 2 weeks
Add to Basket
Sign in to add to wishlist
 
Free Home Delivery

on all orders

 
Pick up orders

from local bookshops

Information