Contributors to Wisconsin's persistent black-white gap in life expectancy

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities
• Longevity Research

Background:

• The black-white life expectancy gap in the U.S. varies significantly by state.
• Wisconsin's gap exceeds 6 years, surpassing the national average.
• Understanding the drivers of this disparity in Wisconsin is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific causes of death contributing to the black-white life expectancy gap in Wisconsin.
• To pinpoint age groups most affected by these causes of death.
• To inform targeted policy interventions for reducing longevity disparities.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 1999-2016 restricted-use mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics.
• Generated race- and sex-specific life tables for 3-year observation periods.
• Decomposed the black-white life expectancy gap into 13 causes of death and 19 age groups across three time periods.

Main Results:

• In 2014-16, the gap was 7.34 years for males and 5.61 years for females in Wisconsin.
• Homicide was the largest contributor for males (1.56 years), while heart disease and cancer led for females (1.12 and 1.00 years, respectively).
• Homicide impacted male longevity in younger years; heart disease and cancer affected both sexes between ages 50-70. Perinatal conditions and unintentional injuries were also notable contributors.

Conclusions:

• Policy interventions targeting perinatal mortality and homicide in early life are essential.
• Addressing chronic conditions like cancer and heart disease in later life is key to reducing disparities.
• These focused efforts can help Wisconsin achieve racial parity in longevity.