Life expectancy in Germany: illnesses are treated too late

Life expectancy in this country is almost 2 years lower

When it comes to average life expectancy, Germany lags behind Western Europe and continues to lose ground. This shows a current to study on mortality trends from the Federal Institute for Population Research and the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research.

Thus, children born in Germany in 2022 have an average life expectancy of 80.55 years. This represents 1.7 years less in the rest of Western Europe. The difference has increased in recent years: in 2000 the difference was 0.7 years. By the way, Switzerland is the leader in the Western European comparison: there you can expect an average lifespan of 83.53 years.

Many deaths from cardiovascular diseases

According to the study, women in Germany aged 75 and over are affected by higher mortality than their peers in other Western European countries. In men, residues appear earlier, mainly between the ages of 55 and 74.

The study authors essentially see one reason for this: an increase in the number of deaths due to cardiovascular disease in late adulthood or retirement. They are the most common cause of death in Germany, accounting for a good third of all deaths, as figures from the Federal Statistical Office show. Cardiovascular diseases include heart failure, coronary heart disease, Angina pectoris or Cardiac arrhythmia.

Tip: Our guide Hello strong heart offers concrete, easy-to-implement action recommendations for everyone who wants to keep their heart healthy and for people with heart disease.

Cardiovascular diseases are recognized too late

According to researchers, there is great potential in Germany to reduce mortality. “It’s not because cardiovascular diseases are not well treated in Germany,” says Pavel Grigoriev, head of the mortality research group at the Federal Institute for Population Research and first author of the current study. Medical care in this country is very good.

“These diseases are recognized too late and therefore treated too late,” says Grigoriev. The high percentage of cardiovascular patients who only seek services in advanced stages of the disease and with other diseases indicates failures in prevention, early detection and treatment.

Actively take care of your own health

It is a matter of concern that the most important risk factors have been known for a long time and can be, at least partially, influenced by behavioral changes. That includes high pressurediabetes, smoking, Overweight and unhealthy eating habits.

The researchers appeal, on the one hand, to politicians to expand prevention and early detection, and, on the other hand, to each individual: “We should not just trust the healthcare system, but actively take care of our own health,” says Grigoriev.

Cardiovascular diseases can be prevented

• High blood pressure is the number 1 risk factor. To detect high blood pressure in a timely manner, a reliable blood pressure monitor essential. You can read about which active ingredients you can use to control increased blood pressure in our Blood Pressure Lowering Test.
• Become a non-smoker. We give tips on how to be successful quit smoking and say if Non-smoking apps can help with that.
• Change your diet. In our test we tell you which nutritional concepts are suitable in the long term Diet concepts.

Nervous system diseases are increasing worldwide

In fact, diseases of the nervous system such as Alzheimer’s and others have occurred throughout the world. Dementia diseases, migraine or strokes have increased significantly over the past three decades. According to one in the newspaper Lancet Neurology According to the published study, they are still ahead of heart and circulatory diseases.