A recent study published by researchers at Brown University revealed that Americans tend to die younger than Europeans, and this trend affects all wealth levels, including the affluent. The study examined the longevity and financial status of older individuals in the U.S. and Europe over a 12-year period. It found that Americans have a lower survival rate compared to Europeans at every economic level. Specifically, the wealthiest individuals in Northern and Western Europe have a mortality rate approximately 35% lower than their American counterparts.
Irene Papanicolas, a senior author of the study and a professor of health services, policy, and practice at Brown School of Public Health, explained that these mortality trends are not limited to the poorest Americans. She suggested that there is a systemic issue affecting all Americans. The research, which was featured in the New England Journal of Medicine, analyzed data from over 73,000 individuals aged 50 to 85 across the U.S. and 16 European countries. The study highlighted that even the wealthiest Americans exhibited survival rates statistically similar to the poorest wealth group in Northern and Western Europe.
Papanicolas speculated that certain European countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, invest heavily in healthcare but also effectively address social determinants that widen the health and wealth gap, unlike the U.S.
Despite the disparities found among the wealthiest Americans, the study reinforces the correlation between wealth and health. Richer individuals generally have better survival prospects due to their ability to afford healthcare expenses, safer living environments, and education that enhances health literacy. However, the United States shows a pronounced health disparity between its richest and poorest citizens, with the latter group exhibiting the lowest survival rates among all participants in the study.
Papanicolas emphasized that greater inequality might restrict access to essentials necessary for a healthy life for more people. She noted that a blend of cultural, policy, and environmental factors can influence how wealth impacts health, a phenomenon that appears particularly intense in the U.S. Compared to Europe, where education and factors like smoking show less of a social gradient, wealth disparities have more significant impacts in the U.S.
While the study does not identify specific causes for these findings, it raises questions about the systemic factors affecting American survival rates. As potential solutions, Papanicolas suggested examining policies in countries with better longevity outcomes and understanding what systemic factors are endemic to the U.S. but not other nations.
The study identified three primary factors behind shorter lifespans in the U.S.: avoidable causes of death, high cardiovascular mortality rates, and a weaker social support system. External deaths in the U.S., such as those resulting from firearms, alcohol, and suicide, were noted to be higher than in other wealthy nations, indicating a less effective public health infrastructure.
Moreover, the U.S. experiences higher heart disease rates, a significant contributory factor to premature mortality. Papanicolas recommended improving access to affordable healthcare, medications, and effective prevention of heart disease risk factors. She also highlighted that European countries tend to invest more in a robust social support system, offering protection from job instability, detachment of healthcare from employment, and more equitable educational opportunities, which are less prevalent in the U.S.
A weaker social safety net was further evidenced by the U.S.’s drop in the World Happiness Report rankings. The study calls for a revamped public health approach aimed at ensuring equitable access to healthy aging, at a time when health services for older adults are being curtailed.
Papanicolas concluded that by learning from other nations, the U.S. could achieve better survival outcomes with fewer resources, presenting a hopeful outlook for improvement. This study was initially reported on Fortune.com.
