A study says efforts in reducing health inequalities should target people from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups.
They say money can’t buy happiness, but it could add years onto your life.
A new study published in the Journal of Gerontology found being wealthy could give you eight or nine more years added to your life.
In their research, experts analysed more than 25,000 people aged 50 and above and discovered those who are rich live more years free from disability and illness.
The wealthiest men in England and in the US aged 50 lived around 31 extra years in good health, compared with 22-23 years for those in the poorest group. Similarly, women in England and the US lived around an extra 33 years in good health, compared with 24-25 years for the poorest group.
“Inequalities in healthy life expectancy exist in both countries and are of similar magnitude,” concluded the team led by University College London (UCL). “In both countries, efforts in reducing health inequalities should target people from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups,” they added.
The study collated a range of data and followed the participants for up to a decade. Dr Paola Zaninotto, lead author of the report from UCL, said: “While life expectancy is a useful indicator of health, the quality of life as we get older is also crucial.
“By measuring healthy life expectancy we can get an estimate of the number of years of life spent in favourable states of health or without disability. “Our study makes a unique contribution to understanding the levels of inequalities in health expectancies between England and the US where healthcare systems are very different.”
(Story source: Manchester Evening News)
