Jack Shapiro: Stunning Update -- Gains in U.S. Life Expectancy Continuing to Erode

Released on = May 11, 2005, 8:45 pm

Press Release Author = Jack Shapiro

Industry = Healthcare

Press Release Summary = This will come as a huge surprise to many people, but the gains we had been making in U.S. life expectancy are actually slowing down. Since 1900 we have added 30 years to average life expectancy, but 70% of those gains came
before 1951.

Press Release Body = JACK M. SHAPIRO:
STUNNING UPDATE –
GAINS IN U.S. LIFE EXPECTANCY
CONTINUING TO ERODE

P.O. BOX 1025
Maywood, NJ 07607
Phone: 201-441-9815
e-mail: JSHEALTH@AOL.COM
Website: www.JackShapiro.com

“This will come as a huge surprise to many people, but the gains we had been making in U.S. life expectancy are actually slowing down,” says Jack Shapiro, healthcare marketing consultant, futurist, broadcast journalist and public speaker.

“Average life expectancy is now 77.3 years (74.5 years for males and 79.9 years for females), Shapiro notes based on the latest government figures for 2002 (issued in November 2004). This has barely improved since the middle of the last decade when
life expectancy was 76.1 years in 1996. In 2002, average U.S. life expectancy grew by only 0.1 years from 77.2 years to 77.3 years.

“Since 1900, we have added 30 years to average U.S. life expectancy (47.3 years for both sexes in 1900 vs. 77.3 years now). But 70% of those gains came before 1951. In the first 50 years of the last century, we picked up 21 years of life expectancy, but only 9 years since then -- and the biggest gains were last seen in the 1970s when we improved life expectancy by 3.1 years during that decade.”

Gains in overall life expectancy by decade since 1900 have been:

1900 – 1909: +4.8 Yrs
1910 – 1919: +4.7
1920 – 1929: +3.0
1930 – 1939: +4.0
1940 – 1949: +5.1
1950 – 1959: +1.7
1960 – 1969: +0.8
1970 – 1979: +3.1
1980 – 1989: +1.4
1990 – 1999: +1.3
2000 – 2002: +0.3

Shapiro points out that many elements have contributed to the slowdown in life expectancy gains. These include: the staggering rise in healthcare costs; 45 million people now without health insurance; 30 million households estimated to be underinsured; sharp slowdown in the number of new drugs since the early 1980s, research and development spending has been slowing down for a number of years, among other factors.

“There had been so much talk about living to be 120 – 150 years old even in our own lifetimes, but these data throw significant doubt on such hopes, Shapiro observes.

To arrange an interview with Jack regarding this fascinating and vital subject, contact him at:

JACK M. SHAPIRO
P.O. BOX 1025
Maywood, NJ 07607
Phone: (201) 441-9815
e-mail: JSHEALTH@AOL.COM
Website: www.JackShapiro.com

ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW, SPEAKING APPEARANCE, OR AN ARTICLE FROM JACK SHAPIRO ON THESE
TOPICS:

. What’s the future of American healthcare?

. Who are the uninsured and the underinsured?

. What’s driving up the cost of healthcare?

. What can people do to save on healthcare costs?

. How important is healthcare as an issue in the next election?

. Why is ours the “Healthcare Economy?”

. What’s the future for employer provided healthcare?

. Tomorrow’s breakthroughs in biotechnology and surgery: will we be able to afford them?

. Why are so many people turning to “alternative” healthcare?

THIS MAN KNOWS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE

Jack M. Shapiro is a healthcare marketing consultant, futurist, broadcast journalist and public speaker. He includes among his clients major pharmaceutical and insurance companies, advertising agencies, hospitals and manufacturers of medical equipment supplies and devices. Often quoted in the healthcare industry, general business, and lay publications, Jack has been a frequent guest on national television (ABC, NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX, PBS and abroad on BBC and ITN) and radio as a commentator on healthcare trends and politics in the United States and overseas.

From 1997-1999, he was the host of “MEDI-POLITICS,” a nationally-syndicated radio show focusing on the politics and future of healthcare as well as key legal and ethical issues. The show reached more than 40 markets in 26 states and an audience of 31 million people.

Jack has spent more than 35 years in the healthcare field, both in the U.S. and abroad. Before forming his successful research and consulting company, he held
high-level management positions in marketing and market research with healthcare giants such as Wyeth and Pfizer.

He is currently writing a book about the future of American healthcare based on his long experience in the healthcare industry, in-depth interviews with leading experts who appeared on his radio show as well as on-going poll results generated by his
market research company.

See Other Press Releases from Jack Shapiro on His Website at www.jackshapiro.com.

Web Site = http://www.jackshapiro.com

Contact Details = PO Box 1025 Maywood, NJ 07607. 201-441-9815