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State-Level Trends in Lifespan Variability in the United States, 1960-2019: A Research Note.

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Lifespan variability decreased nationwide from 1960-2019, but increased recently. Southern states show higher variability, while Northeast and West states show lower variability, indicating growing health disparities.

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Demography
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • State-level life expectancy disparities are significant and persistent in the U.S.
  • Understanding trends in lifespan variability is crucial for assessing population health equity.
  • Previous research has not fully explored temporal changes in state-level lifespan variability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze trends in lifespan variability across U.S. states from 1960 to 2019.
  • To identify geographic and temporal patterns in lifespan disparity at birth (e0†).
  • To highlight recent concerning trends in lifespan variability.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized period life table data from the United States Mortality Database (1960-2019).
  • Calculated lifespan disparity at birth (e0†) for the U.S. overall and for each state.
  • Compared variability levels and trends across different states and time periods.

Main Results:

  • Overall U.S. lifespan disparity at birth decreased from 14.0 years (1960-1964) to 12.2 years (2015-2019).
  • All states experienced decreased lifespan variability, but with varying levels and rates.
  • Southern states and D.C. consistently showed higher variability; Northeast, Upper Midwest, and West states showed lower variability.
  • A concerning trend of increasing lifespan variability was observed nationally and in most states from 2010-2014 to 2015-2019.

Conclusions:

  • While overall lifespan variability has decreased, recent increases signal growing health inequities.
  • Significant state-level differences in lifespan variability persist, with Southern states faring worse.
  • Monitoring state-specific lifespan variability is essential for targeted public health interventions and policy development.