Global Study Reveals Widening Gap Between Lifespan and Healthspan - Ground News

What the report says

Ground.news reported that a new Global Burden of Disease study in The Lancet Public Health found a growing divide between how long people live and how long they remain in good health. The study said the global “morbidity gap” — the difference between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy — reached 10.7 years in 2023, up from 8.8 years in 1990.

According to the report, people worldwide spent an average of 14.5% of their lives in poor health in 2023, compared with 13.6% in 1990. The article said the gap widened in nearly all countries analyzed, with the largest gaps in high-income countries. The United States was listed at 14 years, followed by Australia at 13.9 years and Canada at 13.7 years. Women were reported to have larger morbidity gaps than men across development levels.

Ground.news said musculoskeletal conditions and mental health disorders accounted for 57.4% of unhealthy years in 2023. The article cited Armin Garmany of Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine as calling for a faster shift toward prevention and wellness-focused care, and Dr. Christopher Murray of the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation as emphasizing healthspan, not only lifespan, as a measure of progress.

The findings matter because longer life expectancy does not necessarily mean more years lived independently or free of chronic illness. More broadly, the study adds to public-health concerns that aging populations may place rising pressure on health systems, long-term care, disability services and prevention programs.