Self-reported good general health of people living in households: by age, April 2001, UK
In 2001 the average life expectancy at birth of females born in the UK was 80 years compared with 76 years for males. However, the gap is smaller in terms of the number of years they can expect to live in good health. Healthy life expectancy for women in 1999 averaged 69 years compared with 67 years for men. Consequently, while women can expect to live longer than men they are also more likely to have more years in poor health.
A higher proportion of men than women in the UK reported their health to be good at all ages. Not surprisingly, among both sexes the proportion of people reporting good health declined with age.
Many people in the older age groups still considered themselves to be in good health, even if they had a limiting long-term illness or disability which restricted their daily activity. Around one in ten of both men and women aged between 65 and 74 who considered themselves in good health had such a disability. Of those aged 75 and over in good health, the percentages reporting such a disability rose to 23 per cent for men and 26 per cent for women.
Death rates from lung cancer,UK
Causes of death vary between the sexes. Cancers are now the most common cause of death in women and the second most common cause in men, accounting for only slightly fewer deaths in men than circulatory disease (which includes heart disease and stroke). However, as a result of greater falls in deaths from other illnesses, the proportion of deaths caused by cancer has risen. In 2001 cancers were responsible for 28 per cent of male deaths in England and Wales and 24 per cent of female deaths, compared with 16 per cent among both males and females in 1951.
The trends in lung cancer deaths are closely linked to the prevalence of cigarette smoking among men and women in the UK. The decline in smoking among men has led to a reduction in lung cancer deaths (see related links: Health-risk behaviours for more information on smoking patterns). The male lung cancer death rate fell sharply from the mid-1970s, halving between 1976 and 2001. In contrast, the rate among women rose from the 1970s before levelling off in the late 1980s.
Sources: Census, April 2001, Office for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency; Life tables, 2000-02, Government Actuary's Department
Notes: Life expectancy at birth: the average number of years which a new born baby could be expected to live if its rates of mortality at each age were those experienced in the year of its birth. The term disability has been used for limiting long-term illness or disability which restricted daily activities. Death rates for lung cancer are for all ages and age standardised to the European standard population.
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