Why wealthy Americans die earlier than poor Europeans

A striking finding of a new study published in a reputable medical magazine New England Journal of Medicineputs into question the belief that American wealth guarantees a long life at the level of other developed countries. A survey led by scientists from Brown University reveals that they have Even the most wealthy Americans shorter life expectancy and higher mortality rate as their European socio-economic peers. In some cases, their survival rate is even comparable to the poorest people of Europe.

It has been known for a long time that Americans generally die younger than the inhabitants of most other high -income countries, writes Ars Technica. But a new study shows that this trend is also considered the highest classes of US society. “The findings are a cruel warning that even the richest Americans are not protected from systemic problems in the US that contribute to a lower expected life spansuch as economic inequality or risk factors such as stress, nutrition or environmental risks, ”wrote a study by the leading author of the study Irene Papanicolasprofessor at Brown University.

Stunning differences between continents

The study covered data of more than 73,000 adults between the ages of 50 and 85, from the US and various European regions (northern/western, southern and eastern Europe), which were accompanied between 2010 and 2022.

The differences were significant: residents of continental Europe died at about forty percent lower rates than US participants during the study. Mortality rates in southern Europe were about thirty percent lower, and in Eastern Europe by thirteen to twenty percent lower than US. The comparison within the richest groups stands out in particular: the most beautiful Americans had an average of a shorter life span than Europeans. In some cases, their survival rate was even at the level of the poorest quarter of the population in Western Europe, such as Germany, France and the Netherlands, the authors V in New England Journal of Medicine.

Remember the Luigi Mangionia

Luigi Mangione26-year-old University of Pennsylvania, is charged with murder Briana ThompsonCEO of the US Health Insurance Company Unitedhealthcare, which took place on 4 December 2024 in New York. Mangione was arrested a few days after the murder in Pennsylvania, and he was supposed to have a 3D-tapped gun and on the hand written document (or manifesto) by criticism of the US health systemstates CBS News.

Mangione was arrested a few days after the murder in Pennsylvania, and he was supposed to have a 3D pistol and a hand-written document (or manifesto) with criticism of the American health system. Photo: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

Mangione faces serious federal and state accusations, including murder, stalking and using weapons, and at the federal level he is also threatened with death, as confirmed The Ministry of Justice. Prosecutors claim that the attack was planned to launch a public debate on health and the insurance industry.

The case sparked a heated public debate and became the center of the expressed dissatisfaction with many Americans over the functioning of health insurance companies and the entire system. Although the authorities treat the act as planned murder and even terrorism, Mangione has gained a lot of public supportwhich originates mainly from criticism at the expense of insurance practices of rejection or delay in the approval of treatment.

He also echoed a bill in California, named after Mangione, which was supposed to address these issues, although the name has raised sharp criticism, reports Times. Days ago it became known to be Attorney prosecutors claimed the death penalty for Mangione.

Wealth helps, AV USA Less than in Europe

The study confirms that larger assets mean longer life everywhere – individuals in the richest quarter had a forty percent lower mortality rate than those in the poorest. However, this connection in the US is much more pronounced; The gap in survival between the richest and the poorest is much larger there than in Europe. The poorest Americans also had the lowest survival rate of all compared groups.

An example of Luigi Mangionia sparked a heated public debate and became the center of the expressed dissatisfaction of many Americans over the functioning of health insurance companies and the entire system Photo: Kent J. Edwards/Reuters

Researchers also highlight the so -called « effect of survivors » in the US: poorer individuals with poor health die more often, so the remaining older population looks healthier and wealthy than they would otherwise. « Our previous work has shown that property inequality after the age of 65 is reduced in both the United States and in Europe, this is because the poorest Americans die earlier and in a greater proportion, » Papanicolas explains.

Why do Americans live shorter?

While worse access to health care and weaker social structures can partially explain a major gap between the poor and the rich within the US, they do not explain the differences between wealthy Americans and wealthy Europeans, the authors say. They believe that other systemic factors that are characteristic of American society must be in the game.

Possible causes include greater economic inequality, weaker social security networks, structural inequalities, as well as cultural and behavioral factors such as nutrition, stress, smoking and rural life. In contrast, more generous European welfare countries could also protect the poorer classes, which makes it require less property to achieve longer life than in the US. As it is for Euronews commented dr. Martin McKeea professor of European public health, who did not participate in the study, show that « the welfare state benefits all, including those who are at least for the middle class. »

Calls for action and learning from Europe

« Determining health results is not only a challenge for the most vulnerable – those in the upper quarter of the property are also affected, » said the co -author of the study Sara Machado from Brown University. According to researchers, the results offer an anxiety view of US public health and call for action. US policy designers should address a growing gap between assets and mortality through broader measures that go beyond mere disadvantages of the healthcare system.

Although the authorities are treated as planned murder and even terrorism, Luigi Mangione has gained a great deal of public support, which stems mainly from criticism at the expense of insurance practices of rejection or delay in the approval of treatment. Photo: Darkness of Adelaja/Reuters

« If you look at other countries, they have better results, which means we can learn and improve from them, » Machadova says. « It is not necessarily more about consumption – it is about addressing the factors we are overlooking and which could bring much greater benefits than we imagine. » The study thus indicates that American lifestyles and social regulation require tax for those who can afford the most.