Multiple Chronic Conditions Threaten Gains in Life Expectancy

An estimated four in five older Americans live with multiple chronic medical conditions.  Eva H. DuGoff, from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Maryland, USA), and colleagues warn that the more ailments you have after retirement age, the shorter your life expectancy. The team analyzed data collected on 1.4 million Medicare enrollees for whom 21 defined chronic conditions were identified. Data revealed that life expectancy decreases with each additional chronic condition. A 67-year-old individual with no chronic conditions will live on average 22.6 additional years. A 67-year-old individual with 5 chronic conditions and 10 or more chronic conditions will live 7.7 fewer years and 17.6 fewer years, respectively. The study authors warn that: “The average marginal decline in life expectancy is 1.8 years with each additional chronic condition—ranging from 0.4 fewer years with the first condition to 2.6 fewer years with the sixth condition.”