Life expectancy in West Midlands lower than national average, with increasing preventable deaths

Life expectancy in West Midlands has grown but still does not fall into national environments

West Midlands Ambulance Service Image Stock(Image: West Midlands Ambulance Service/Pa wire)

The life expectancy for people in West Midlands is below the national average, in terms of figures that show an increase in the number of preventable deaths.

West Midlands combined author’s report (WMCA), which will be discussed by the members of the authority committee, has revealed the worrying statistics.

The data show, between 2021-23, the life expectancy in West Midlands for women was 82.5 years and 78.4 for men – lower than the respective average of England of 83.1 and 79.1 in the same period.

In more positive news, the West Midlands life expectancy figures are an increase in the 2018-20 period, where 81.9 years for women and 77.6 for men.

The report says Solihull – the richest area in the region – has the highest life expectancy while Sandwell And Wolverhampton, among the most deprived, have the smallest.

It also reports that the number of preventable deaths in the West Midlands has increased suddenly, especially during Covid pandemic.

In 2019, the region had a rate of 147 preventable deaths at 100,000, but this “increased” up to 202.4 in 2021 – higher than the average of England of 183.1.

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Environmental factors were also identified as having a major impact on people’s health in the region.

A decrease in the death of particle air pollution deaths in West Midlands from 7.5 % to 6.2 % in 2022, but this is still higher than the national average of 5.8 %.

The report also said that smoking rates in the WMCA area gradually decreases, the low percentage from 18.4 % in 2017/18 to 16.5 % in 2021/22.

But he described the statistics on drug use as revealing a “complex image” with 8,583 deaths due to the wrong use of drugs in 2020-22 registered in England, of which 472 were in West Midlands.

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Physical activity is little below the average of England, also 64 % of physically active adults in 2022/23.

West Midlands has the lowest percentage of physically and young children at 49 %, while obesity rates among reception children are the highest in the country at 10.9 %.

Most residents report moderate life satisfaction up to 94.8 percent, but 22 % have a high level of daily anxiety.

The report said: “Focus on the socio-economic causes of health inequalities, can be addressed below the under average life expectancy and high levels of preventable deaths.

“This requires public services to be reformed to be more integrated and stronger focused on prevention, with interventions built around how people live their lives, so that the socio-economic causes of health inequalities.