In Germany, the anticipated lifespan is decreasing.
With regards to life expectancy, Germany falls short when compared to the norm in Western Europe. The disparity is increasing; it's now larger by one year since the year 2000. The factors contributing to this trend have been examined in a recent report. There are certain demographics and ailments that undeniably make an impact.
Germany occupies a subpar position among Western European nations when considering life expectancy. Worse yet, it seems to be losing ground. The recent findings of the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) in conjunction with the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research reveal that from the turn of the millennium, there's been a consistent widening gap in mortality trends between Germany and other countries in the West. In the year 2000, Germany was about 0.7 years behind the average life expectancy at birth in Western Europe. By 2022, the divide had increased to 1.7 years. The principal author of the BiB, Pavel Grigoriev, summarized the results, stating, "A turning point occurred in the dynamics of mortality development in Germany around the start of the 2000s."
East Germany managed to significantly narrow the gap with West Germany and Western Europe following reunification, but "since the turn of the millennium, western and eastern Germany have both lost ground to their western European counterparts," says the Wiesbaden-based Federal Institute.
Fairly different age groups impact Germany's expanding life expectancy gap. In Germany, death rates for women 75 and older are notably higher than those for similarly aged people in other Western European countries. For men, those aged 55 to 74 make a significant contribution to the gap. "The leading cause of the difference in mortality rates is attributable to a higher mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases," the team notes in the "Bundesgesundheitsblatt".
Research director Sebastian Klüsener of the BiB underlines the significance of action, particularly in terms of heading off and early detection of cardiovascular diseases. Similarly, preventing tobacco and alcohol abuse and supporting healthy diets are key areas where Germany can improve its standing amidst the current population aging process. "There's a great deal of potential to better position ourselves for society's current aging process," says Klüsener.
Data was obtained from 15 countries in Western Europe, including Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Great Britain, and Finland.
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- Given the rising incidence of heart attacks among seniors, ageing research in Germany is focusing on improving cardiovascular health to help bridge the growing life expectancy gap with other European countries.
- To address the deteriorating mortality trends, Germany is investing in education and awareness programs, emphasizing preventive measures such as healthy diets, tobacco and alcohol abstinence, and early detection of cardiovascular diseases.
- The European Union is recognizing the importance of collaborative efforts in ageing research, inviting Germany to participate in international projects, with a goal of exchanging knowledge and best practices in addressing common age-related health challenges.
Source: www.ntv.de
