Lifestyle and location – why Americans die younger than Europeans

A major new study finds that Americans die younger than Europeans, regardless of how much money they have. The findings suggest that wealth alone does not provide the same protection in the United States as in other parts of the world. Researchers at Brown University analyzed health and income data from more than 73.000 adults in the United States and across Europe, KosovaPress reports. All participants were between 50 and 85 years old in 2010. The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, provide a detailed look at how money is related to longevity. The study found that wealthier people tend to live longer than poorer people. However, even the wealthiest Americans had higher death rates than their European peers. In some cases, wealthy Americans had life expectancies similar to the poorest people in countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Irene Papanicolas, a professor at the Brown School of Public Health, said the study gives a clearer picture of how life expectancy in the US compares to Europe. She added that the findings are a stark reminder that even the wealthiest Americans are not immune to systemic issues in the US. According to the study, the death rate for the richest group in the US was 40% lower than for the poorest group. But across the Atlantic, the gap was even wider – with Europeans living longer overall. People in Continental Europe had death rates about 40% lower than Americans. In Southern Europe, the death rate was about 30% lower. In Eastern Europe, rates were 13% to 20% lower. Lifestyle and location matter Researchers believe that several everyday factors may explain these differences. These include poor diets, high stress, smoking, and living in rural areas where healthcare is harder to reach. These issues are more common in the US and can increase health risks at any income level. Sara Machado, one of the study’s authors, said that money and geography play a role in health. “We found that where you stand in your country’s wealth distribution matters for your longevity, and where you stand in your country compared to where others stand in theirs as well,” she said. Survivor effect The study also noted what the researchers called a survivor effect. In the US, poorer people often die earlier. This means that older age groups appear healthier and wealthier, but only because many lower-income individuals did not survive long enough to be counted. Papanicolas said this gives the false impression that the wealth gap narrows with age. In fact, poorer Americans are more likely to die young. Researchers say the study highlights the need for broader changes.Read More