Girls born in the poorest areas of England will have almost 20 years less good health than those in the richest, according to figures that also show that overall life expectancy in the poorest areas has dropped significantly .
The average life expectancy of women at birth in the most needy areas was 19.3 years lower than in the poorest areas in 2018-2020, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In men it is 18.6 years younger.
Last week, the Guardian revealed that women in the poorest parts of England die earlier than the average woman in almost any comparable country. Deputies and health experts described the revelation as devastating and unacceptable.
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ONS figures now show that life expectancy in the poorest areas of England has dropped significantly in the three years to 2020, and the gap in inequality between people living in the poorest areas has widened.
The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 is likely to have affected changes in life expectancy, with the most deprived areas having the highest death rates from the virus. However, it is too early to reflect the full impact of Covid-19.
There was a significant reduction in life expectancy for both women and men living in the most needy areas of England between 2015-17 and 2018-2020, ONS reported. For women, life expectancy at birth in 2018-20 was 78.3 years, which is a decrease from 78.7 in 2015-17. For men, it decreased from 74 to 73.5 years.
David Finch, assistant director of healthy living at the Health Foundation, said the data showed that there was a greater decline in life expectancy in the poorest parts of England than in the richest.
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“It also emphasizes that in the most needy areas, people live most of their lives in poor health,” he said. “Girls born in the poorest parts of England live 19 years less in good health than those born in the richest. Amazing difference in life chances. “
Finch said reducing apparent inequalities requires a “fundamental change” in a government-wide approach that promotes the conditions necessary for good health, such as adequate incomes to cope with rising living costs, secure jobs and decent housing. “The forthcoming White Paper on Differences provides a clear opportunity to move beyond rhetoric and take action,” he said.
ONS data also show a statistically significant increase in life expectancy inequalities for both sexes. Men in the poorest areas of England lived 9.7 years less than those in the most disadvantaged areas in 2018-20, compared to a difference of 9.3 years in 2015-17. The difference for women was 7.9 years in 2018-2020, compared to 7.5.
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Men and women in the most deprived areas not only have shorter life expectancies in general, but also live more years in poorer health.
In 2018-2020, the life expectancy of men at birth in the most deprived areas of England is estimated at 52.3 years, compared to 70.5 years in the most disadvantaged areas. The difference for women is even greater – 51.9 versus 70.7 years.
The years spent in poorer health are progressively decreasing from the most needy areas (21.2 years for men, 26.4 years for women) to the areas with the least poverty (12.7 and 15.6 years, respectively) . ONS said: “Because those who live in more needy areas also live shorter lives, this means that they spend less of their lives in good health.
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