WHO Good health in Europe

Health in Europe is developing positively

15/03/2013

The health of the population in Europe continues to develop very positively, according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) European Health Report 2012. Life expectancy is rising, child mortality is extremely low by global standards and infectious diseases have largely lost their horror in Europe.

Every three years, the World Health Organization publishes a report on health in Europe. According to the WHO, this takes into account the „Health of nearly 900 million people“ out „53 states of the European region“ and, especially with regard to the development of life expectancy, is showing quite satisfactory development. Since 1980 this has risen by five years in the considered states. On average, the life expectancy of men and women today is around 76 years. Women reach an average age of 80 years, men of 72.5 years. In addition, the continued decline in child mortality is particularly pleasing. Although there are marked differences between countries, overall health trends in Europe are positive.

Life expectancy in Europe is rising
The European Health Report 2012 takes into account „demographic trends, life expectancy, mortality, causes of death, the burden of the disease, risk factors and social determinants“, according to the WHO communication. Also the „Health inequalities, including health systems“ are reflected in the current report. The national comparison has shown that, despite the generally positive development in Europe, individual states are significantly worse than the others. For example, life expectancy in the eastern countries, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus is well below that of most of the countries surveyed. The same applies to Montenegro. The national and regional differences result „a mosaic of health situations“, which poses a significant challenge to policy, WHO explained. In addition, the population in Europe is aging massively. By 2050, according to the WHO, 25 percent of the population will be over the age of 65.

Falling child mortality
An extremely gratifying development has been evident in child mortality for decades. According to the WHO, this has again decreased by 53 percent between 1990 and 2010. Although there are significant national differences, the overall trend is very positive. Only 7.3 out of every 1,000 live births die today in Europe.

Increase in cancer
However, according to the WHO report, a worrying development is in cancer. While, for example, infectious diseases have been declining for years (for example, the decline in tuberculosis deaths by 30 percent between 1990 and 2010), cancer incidence has increased by 35 percent since the mid-1980s. However, cancer mortality declined by ten percent over the same period. In 28 of the 53 European countries considered, cancers have now replaced cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death.

Challenge for European health policy
Overall, cardiovascular diseases (for example, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease and, as a consequence, a heart attack) are responsible for nearly 50 percent of deaths in European countries and thus continue to be the leading cause of death. Around 20 percent of deaths are caused by cancer, making it the second most common cause of death in Europe. However, as one of Europe's greatest health challenges, WHO does not describe cancer or cardiovascular disease, but diabetes because of its direct and indirect health effects. The experts also see a considerable risk to the health of Europeans in the still relatively high consumption of alcohol and tobacco. (Fp)