But islanders’ time spent in good health is getting shorter.
Life expectancy at birth is now 83.6 years, up from 83.4. But when it came to health, life expectancy, it was 60.2 years – down from 63.3 years.
While women are expected to live longer, men are expected to stay healthy until 61.5 years, while women only until 59.4 years.
‘This is related to higher proportions of males aged 15-19 reporting themselves as being in ‘good’ or ‘very good’ health compared to females aged 15-19 (76.4% vs 69.2% respectively),’ the report noted.
‘We have assumed similar proportions to these apply from birth to age 14 – ages for which self-rated health data are not currently available. When considering healthy life expectancies from age 65 onwards, the disparity between male and female self-rated health responses that exist for the younger ages is reversed (67.1% of males vs 78.9% of females report ‘good’ or ‘very good’ health, respectively, among those aged 65-69) and the healthy life expectancy results also reverse correspondingly, with female healthy life expectancies being higher than those of males.’
Four causes account for three-quarters of deaths.
The leading cause was neoplasms [abnormal growths, including cancer] with 27%, closely followed by circulatory diseases with 26%. Respiratory diseases account for 11%, as do mental and behavioural disorders. The majority of deaths which fall under mental and behavioural disorders are dementia and Alzheimer’s deaths.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s deaths are a growing issue. In 2005 to 2007 this was the underlying cause for 6% of deaths. For the last three years, they have accounted for 14%.
Director of Public Health Nicola Brink said the document, which covers 2022 and 2024, was important.
‘Examining causes of death at population level is important because it can reveal factors which are having tangible effects on local people and their families by shortening lives, and many of those are modifiable,’ she said.
‘The report tells us, for example, that around one in six deaths are preventable or treatable. Giving up smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, preventing disease through vaccination, increasing usage of screening services and drinking alcohol responsibly are factors that work for prevention.
‘The report also confirms the negative effects of alcohol in our community, as alcohol-specific deaths are shown to be one of the top contributory causes of years of life lost.
‘Reducing this needs to be a serious ambition for our islands going forward, and we are committed to working towards that goal.’
The report can be read in full at gov.gg/publichealthinfo.
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