Britain is now the sick woman of Europe
British women have the second lowest life expectancy in western Europe and spend almost 20 years in poor health, according to official figures.
Female life expectancy in the UK was 82 years and nine months - five months shorter than the previous year and almost three years behind Spain, where women live longest. Only Denmark had lower female life expectancy. Experts said the low ranking was the legacy of heavy smoking by British women since World War II.
While men’s life expectancy was more than three years lower than women’s at 79 years and two months, the gap is closing and British men are doing much better than women relative to their European counterparts, coming in a year behind Sweden at the top of the table, according to the latest EU figures for 2015, a report by Public Health England reveals. Women spent an average of 19 years in ill health, compared with 16 years for men.
The report indicates that deaths from heart disease and stroke have halved for both sexes since 2001.
However, deaths among women from lung cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease have risen, in addition to a steep increase in deaths from complications of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Male rates of lung cancer have dropped by nearly a third but there has been a rise in men dying from dementia and Alzheimer’s as more live longer.
The report also reveals stark regional differences within the UK. England had the longest life expectancies for both sexes, followed by Wales.
Public Health England identified a strong correlation between wealth and health.
Men living in the most deprived areas of England could expect to live nine years less than men in the least deprived areas, and women seven years less.
Professor Peter Goldblatt, of University College London’s Institute of Health Equity, told The Sun on Sunday: "Women in this country started smoking in large numbers during World War II when they began to work in factories.
‘‘So the epidemic of smoking among women happened earlier [in Britain] than among women in other European countries."
Public Health England said: "For most people the ingredients for a healthy life are a good education, a good job, a healthy diet, a suitable roof over your head and people to care for and about."