New Report on the Status of Health in the European Union: Towards a healthier Europe

Background

The main objective of the EUGLOREH project was the production of a "Report on Health in the European Union" extending from 1998 till the most recently available data. The purpose of the Report was to provide a valuable tool for the European Commission, national policy makers and other stakeholders to monitor impacts of main health interventions and policies.

Main findings of the Report

The significant increase in life expectancy clearly indicates that health status has improved in the EU in the last decades, in spite of the smaller increases recorded in the Eastern European Member States.

The main reasons for this improvement are the more effective control of infectious diseases and a reduced mortality attributed to cardio-vascular and respiratory diseases since the 70’s and of most cancer types (but not lung cancer) in the 90’s.

Increased life expectancy, together with the increased use of birth control, has resulted in the ageing of populations of all EU Member States. This trend has considerably increased the number of retired persons, who, in principle, have a lower income.

Taking into account that the elderly are more susceptible than the young to a variety of diseases and health problems, it is not surprising that the increase in life expectancy does not result in an increase in the life years spent in good health. This is the case for women, who, despite their higher longevity, by about six years with respect to men, live in good health only two years more than men.

For further information

 EUGLOREH Website

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