New report examines NI life expectancy inequalities

A NEW report examining health inequalities and life expectancy has been published today by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland.

The statistical report – ‘Health Inequalities – Life Expectancy Decomposition 2019’ – is one of a series of reports produced as part of the NI Health & Social Care Inequalities Monitoring System (HSCIMS).

The report explores mortality, life expectancy and the causes of death between time periods, genders, deprivation levels, and urban and rural areas in Northern Ireland.

Some of the key findings include;

• Over the last five years, life expectancy has increased by 0.5 years for males and remained the same for females, standing at 78.5 years for males and 82.3 years for females in 2015-17.
• Decreased mortality rates among 50-89 year olds contributed to the majority of the increase in male life expectancy.
• Males born in 2015-17 could expect to live 3.9 years fewer than their female counterparts.
• Higher male mortality from cancers and circulatory disease accounted for 1.4 years and 1.2 years of the gap respectively.
• Suicide was also much higher among males and contributed a further 0.6 years towards the gender gap.

Deprivation Gap

• Male life expectancy for those living in the most deprived areas was 74.2 years, 7.1 years less than that in the least deprived areas (81.3 years).
• Cancer (1.6 years) and circulatory diseases (1.4 years) each contributed almost a quarter of the deprivation gap respectively.
• Suicide was the third highest contributor representing 1.2 years of the deprivation gap. Of this, two-thirds (0.8 years) was attributable to males between the ages of 20 and 39 years.
• Females in the most deprived areas had a life expectancy of 79.6 years, 4.5 years lower than that in the least deprived areas (84.1 years).
• Cancer related mortality accounted for almost a third (1.4 years) of the female deprivation gap. Of this, over half (0.8 years) was attributable to lung cancer.

Rural v Urban gap

• Life expectancy for males living in urban areas was 77.2 years, 3.1 years less than males living in rural areas (80.3 years).
• Female life expectancy in urban areas was 81.6 years, 2.1 years less than those living in rural areas (83.7 years).
• Cancer related mortality contributed a quarter of both the male and female rurality gaps.

You can find out more and read the report here.