Healthy life expectancy, or the expected years of life in good health, for persons aged 65 is generally less in the southern United States than elsewhere in the nation, says a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the report, the healthy life expectancy, or HLE, of 65-year olds is the lowest in Mississippi - where it is 10.8 years, and the highest is in Hawaii - where it is 16.2 years. HLE as a percentage of life expectancy for persons at age 65 years for the total U.S. population ranged from a low of 61.5% in Mississippi to a high of 78.2% in Vermont.
In all the 50 states and the District of Columbia, HLE at age 65 years, is higher for females than males. Whites have a greater HLE than blacks in all the states, barring Nevada and New Mexico.
The findings are based on 2007-2009 data from the National Vital Statistics Systems, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
To read the full CDC report, click here.
by RTT Staff Writer
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