A recent study published in The Lancet unveils a remarkable 6.2-year surge in global life expectancy from 1990 to 2021. However, amidst these strides, COVID-19’s impact looms large.
The reduction in deaths from enteric infections, lower respiratory infections, ischemic heart disease, and strokes significantly contributed to this rise. Enteric illnesses, including typhoid and diarrhea, witnessed the most substantial decline, boosting life expectancy by 1-1.1 years. Notably, South Asia saw a remarkable gain of 3.1 years due to decreased mortality from enteric infections.
Lead author Mohsen Naghavi emphasizes the urgent need for prevention and treatment strategies against these diseases, advocating for expanded immunization programs and the development of new vaccines.
Yet, challenges persist. The study identifies digestive diseases, cirrhosis, diabetes, and kidney diseases as continuing threats to global health, with limited improvement noted from 2010 to 2019.
COVID-19, however, dealt a severe blow. Across all causes, it led to a decline of 1.6 years in life expectancy between 2019 and 2021, with varying impacts across regions. Despite advanced medical facilities containing cases in some areas, the pandemic underscored healthcare inequalities globally.
Furthermore, COVID-19 reshuffled the leading causes of death. In 2021, it emerged as the second leading cause, highlighting its profound impact on global mortality rates.
While challenges remain, successes in disease mitigation programs offer hope for the future. The study’s insights provide valuable guidance for shaping future healthcare policies and interventions.
