Story at a glance
- The study led by Oxford University researchers measured the years of life lost (YLL) in 37 upper-middle and high-income countries.
- Researchers then used the measure to estimate the changes in life expectancy and excess years of life lost from all causes in 2020, including the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.
- Russia experienced the largest drop in life expectancy, with Russian men losing 2.33 years and women losing 2.14 years. The U.S. came in second, with men losing 2.27 years and women 1.61.
A new study estimates more than 28 million years of human life were lost last year as the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged much of the world.
The study led by Oxford University researchers measured the years of life lost (YLL) in 37 upper-middle and high-income countries by calculating the number of deaths and the age at which it occurs.
Researchers then used the measure to estimate the changes in life expectancy and excess years of life lost from all causes in 2020. Life expectancy between 2005 and 2019 was used as a benchmark for the study.
While life expectancy increased in all the countries studied between 2005 and 2019, there was a decline in 2020 for all countries except New Zealand, Taiwan, Iceland, South Korea, Norway and Denmark. Life expectancy either increased or showed no change in those countries.
Declines in life expectancy were higher among men than women in all countries studied.
Our country is in a historic fight against the coronavirus. Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.
Russia experienced the largest drop in life expectancy, with Russian men losing 2.33 years and women losing 2.14 years. The U.S. came in second, with men losing 2.27 years and women 1.61. Bulgaria, Lithuania, Chile and Spain followed respectively.
As life expectancy fell, the number of years lost from premature deaths spiked.
More than 222 million years of life were lost in 2020, 28.1 million more than expected. The figure is likely to be a severe underestimate as the study only looked at 37 countries.
“Our findings of a comparable or lower than expected YLL in Taiwan, New Zealand, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and South Korea underscore the importance of successful viral suppression and elimination policies, including targeted and population based public health policy interventions,” researchers wrote.
The U.S. this week surpassed the sobering milestone of 750,000 COVID-19 deaths, the highest number of deaths from the disease in the world.
The research was published in the BMJ journal Wednesday.
READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA
CHEFS DECLARE WAR ON A TRENDY FRUIT BECAUSE OF ITS ENORMOUS CARBON FOOTPRINT
FACEBOOK DISCOVERS THERE’S ALREADY A COMPANY NAMED META
ISRAELI MINISTER OUTRAGED WHEN HER WHEELCHAIR IS DENIED ENTRY TO COP26
WAR ERUPTS OVER NEW MARVEL BLOCKBUSTER’S GAY SUPERHERO
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERING GIVING $450,000 PER PERSON TO IMMIGRANTS SEPARATED AT THE BORDER
changing america copyright.
