Health expectancies in Wales with inequality gap

Summary:

Higher mortality rates in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic may account for some of the worsening life expectancy estimates seen in 2018-2020. However, a stalling in life expectancy improvement was previously reported prior to the pandemic as part of Life expectancy and mortality in Wales 2020. Some possible explanations cited for worsening health expectancies and widening inequalities include low wage growth, fuel poverty, food insecurity, and the period of austerity in Wales since 2010/11 as highlighted by Sir Michael Marmot 1. The recent rise in the cost of living is an additional pressure which may further increase inequalities in health expectancies as lower income households may not be able to afford basic necessities such as food and heating to maintain a decent standard of living. ‘A More Equal Wales’ is one of the seven goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. Life expectancy, healthy life expectancy and their inequality gaps are important indicators to help measure inequalities in health and are included in the Public Health Outcomes Framework.

• Health expectancies in Wales with inequality gap profile