We Are Living Longer but Not Healthier: Global Study

New research indicates that people are living longer but spending more years in poor health.

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The promise of modern medicine has always been simple: more years of life. But a new international study suggests a cruel irony—we’re living longer, only to spend those extra years struggling with debilitating health conditions.

The comprehensive analysis of global health data from more than 180 countries found that on average, one spends 9.6 years—nearly an entire decade—of one’s extended life managing disease and disability.

A Global Health Divide Emerges

According to the research published in JAMA Network Open on Dec. 11, women are especially affected by this health disparity, experiencing an average of 2.4 years more of compromised health than men.