OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of China's economic reforms on population health and regional mortality rates. METHODS: Longitudinal study measuring the mortality trends and their regional variations. Using data from the three most recent national censuses, we used the model life table to adjust the mortality levels within the population for each census, and to calculate life expectancy. We then examined the variation in patterns of mortality and population health by economic status, region and gender from 1980-2000. RESULTS: Life expectancy varied with economic status, province, and gender. Results showed that, although life expectancy in China had increased overall since the early 1980s, regional differences became more pronounced. Life expectancy for populations who live in the eastern coastal provinces are greater than those in the western regions. CONCLUSION: Differences in life expectancy are primarily related to differences in regional economic development, which in turn exacerbate regional health inequalities. Therefore, it is necessary to improve economic development in less developed regions and to improve health policies and the public health system that address the needs of everyone.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of China's economic reforms on population health and regional mortality rates. METHODS: Longitudinal study measuring the mortality trends and their regional variations. Using data from the three most recent national censuses, we used the model life table to adjust the mortality levels within the population for each census, and to calculate life expectancy. We then examined the variation in patterns of mortality and population health by economic status, region and gender from 1980-2000. RESULTS: Life expectancy varied with economic status, province, and gender. Results showed that, although life expectancy in China had increased overall since the early 1980s, regional differences became more pronounced. Life expectancy for populations who live in the eastern coastal provinces are greater than those in the western regions. CONCLUSION: Differences in life expectancy are primarily related to differences in regional economic development, which in turn exacerbate regional health inequalities. Therefore, it is necessary to improve economic development in less developed regions and to improve health policies and the public health system that address the needs of everyone.
Authors: Yanping Wang; Xiaohong Li; Maigeng Zhou; Shusheng Luo; Juan Liang; Chelsea A Liddell; Matthew M Coates; Yanqiu Gao; Linhong Wang; Chunhua He; Chuyun Kang; Shiwei Liu; Li Dai; Austin E Schumacher; Maya S Fraser; Timothy M Wolock; Amanda Pain; Carly E Levitz; Lavanya Singh; Megan Coggeshall; Margaret Lind; Yichong Li; Qi Li; Kui Deng; Yi Mu; Changfei Deng; Ling Yi; Zheng Liu; Xia Ma; Hongtian Li; Dezhi Mu; Jun Zhu; Christopher J L Murray; Haidong Wang Journal: Lancet Date: 2015-10-26 Impact factor: 79.321