fr.euronews.com
European Life Expectancy Stagnation and COVID-19 Impact
A new study in The Lancet Public Health reveals that while life expectancy in 20 European countries increased steadily until 2011, it slowed considerably by 2019, plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has since rebounded somewhat, highlighting the impact of lifestyle and government policies.
- How did the COVID-19 pandemic differentially impact life expectancy across various European countries, and what factors explain these variations?
- The study, encompassing 20 European countries, shows life expectancy gains averaged 0.23 years annually between 1990 and 2011, primarily due to reduced deaths from heart disease and cancer. However, this slowed to 0.15 years annually between 2011 and 2019. The slowdown is attributed to increased deaths from obesity-related heart disease, highlighting the impact of lifestyle factors.
- What are the primary factors contributing to the recent stagnation and decline in life expectancy across Europe, and what are the immediate implications?
- Life expectancy in Europe, while declining during the COVID-19 pandemic, had been stagnating for nearly a decade prior. A new study, published in The Lancet Public Health, reveals that Europeans born today can expect to live to 80, significantly higher than the global average, but this progress has slowed. While life expectancy increased in the 1990s and early 2000s, it plateaued in the 2010s, dropping during the pandemic and rebounding afterward.
- What policy interventions could European governments implement to reverse the recent decline in life expectancy and address underlying health inequalities?
- The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities. Countries with the slowest life expectancy gains in the 2010s experienced the most significant drops during the pandemic. This suggests that stronger public health policies and better preparedness are crucial for mitigating future health crises. The recent rebound in life expectancy, however, indicates that improvements are still possible.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the decline in life expectancy during the pandemic as a significant event, emphasizing the negative impact. While this is accurate, the framing might inadvertently overshadow the long-term trends of slowing life expectancy gains that predate the pandemic. The headline (if there was one) would likely play a key role in setting the tone and framing the issue. The article does also point out that some countries were better able to maintain their life expectancy during the pandemic, which balances out the negative framing to some extent.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective, relying on factual data and expert opinions. The article uses terms such as "stagnation" and "effondrer" (collapse in French), which could be perceived as slightly loaded, but overall, the language avoids overt bias.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses primarily on Western European countries, potentially omitting data from other European regions that might offer a different perspective on longevity trends. While acknowledging limitations of scope, the article doesn't explicitly mention which regions are excluded or why, which could affect the generalizability of the findings. The article also doesn't discuss potential socioeconomic factors beyond GDP per capita, such as access to healthcare resources or quality of life indicators, that might influence longevity.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplistic view of the relationship between government policies and life expectancy, suggesting a direct correlation without fully exploring the complex interplay of factors involved. While it mentions various factors like diet, exercise, and healthcare access, it doesn't delve into the complexities of implementing effective public health policies or the potential for unintended consequences.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a decline in life expectancy in Europe, particularly impacting the progress of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The decrease is attributed to factors like increased deaths from obesity-related heart diseases and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis emphasizes the need for government policies to address these issues and improve health outcomes.