Unhealthy old age shortest in UK

Life expectancy is increasing

Britons on average have to endure a shorter period of ill health at the end of their lives than any other people in Europe, a survey has found.

In the UK, average life expectancy is 77.61 years, compared to a European average of 78.20.

However, the average Briton can expect to enjoy 69.9 years of good health, followed by just 7.71 years of poor health.

European averages

Life expectancy: 78.20

Years of good health: 69.83

Highest life expectancy: Spain (82.31), Italy (79.12), France (78.89)

Lowest life expectancy: Hungary (70.65), Poland (73.14), Czech Republic (74.75)

This is despite the UK having the highest death rate from respiratory diseases, and the highest levels of obesity in Europe.

Life expectancy across the continent varies sharply. People in Spain can expect to live for an average of 82.31 years.

In contrast, the average Hungarian can expect to live to just 70.65 years - the shortest life expectancy on the continent.

The high life expectancy in Spain has puzzled experts, as smoking rates in the country are high. It may be that the effects of smoking are counter-balanced by a healthy diet.

However, although Spaniards can expect to live for a long time, they are likely to spend the last 11.67 years of their life in poor health - longer than the continental average of eight years.

The research, by the drugs company Pfizer, found that both life expectancy and the number of years that a person can expect to remain in good health are rising across the continent as a whole.

Dr June Crown, of the charity Age Concern, said: "The data clearly demonstrate large differences in the health of populations across the continent.

"Some of these are due to social, economic, and lifestyle differences, but unequal standards in national healthcare systems may also play a part."

Dr Claire McGrath, director of health outcomes at Pfizer, said: "Health system managers from all European countries should be learning from each other, and looking to their neighbours for new ideas to take home and implement to improve patient care."

Disease

The study found that cardiovascular disease (CVD), is the largest single cause of death in Europe, killing an average of 267 Europeans per 100,000 every year.

France had the lowest CVD mortality rate (178 per 100,000), while Hungary had the highest CVD mortality (587 per 100,000).

Respiratory diseases, to which smokers are particularly susceptible, kill considerably more people in the UK (108 per 100,000) than any other country.

Italy (35.9 per 100,000) has the lowest respiratory disease mortality.

The UK has the highest levels of obesity (20.0%), while Norway (6.0%) has the lowest.

However, despite this UK citizens live the shortest amount of their lives in ill health (7.71).

The study also found that Sweden has the highest proportion of people over the age of 65, Poland the lowest.

More elderly people in France perceived their health to be good (76.3%) than any other country.

In contrast, only 9.2% of elderly people in Poland perceived their health to be good.

In Italy, only 19.1% of elderly people perceived their health as good - even though the average person in Italy can expect to enjoy 71.20 years of good health, the longest in Europe.