Sub-County Life Expectancy: A Tool to Improve Community Health and Advance Health Equity

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Americans exhibit poorer health outcomes and shorter life expectancies compared to citizens of other developed nations.
• Profound local, place-based disparities are increasingly recognized as a primary driver of these comparative health deficits.
• Sub-county life expectancy estimates have proven effective in highlighting geographic disparities and prompting community action.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of scaling sub-county life expectancy estimation efforts nationwide.
• To provide methodological guidance and tools for calculating actionable, localized life expectancy data.
• To support state and local health departments in addressing geographic health inequities.

Main Methods:

• A multiphase project, the Sub-County Assessment of Life Expectancy, was initiated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists.
• Phase I involved literature review, tool assessment, calculation of local estimates, and development of methodological guidance.
• Participants' varying resources, expertise, and demographic contexts were considered.

Main Results:

• Phase I results indicate that most state and local health departments can calculate actionable sub-county life expectancy estimates.
• The feasibility is demonstrated across diverse resource levels, expertise, and geographic settings.
• Practical tips, validated tools, and case examples were identified to facilitate scaling.

Conclusions:

• Calculating sub-county life expectancy is a feasible strategy for identifying and addressing local health disparities.
• Widespread adoption of these estimates can empower health departments to implement targeted interventions.
• The project provides a roadmap for scaling these efforts to improve national population health measures.