December 28, 2007
Life expectancy in the United States continues to increase. In 2004, American men could expect to live more than 3 years longer, and women more than 1 year longer, than they did in 1990 (Figure 18 and Table 27). Mortality from heart disease, stroke, and cancer has continued to decline in recent years (Figure 20 and Table 29). Infant mortality, one major determinant of overall life expectancy, declined (Figure 19 and Table 22) through 2001 and has changed little since then. Yet, even as progress is made in improving life expectancy, increased longevity is accompanied by increased prevalence of chronic conditions and their associated pain and disability. In recent years, progress in some areas has not been as rapid as in earlier years, or trends have been moving in the wrong direction. Moreover, improvements have not been equally distributed by income, race, ethnicity, education, and geography.
Posted by Gary Holden at December 28, 2007 8:11 PM