Rising trend of life expectancy in Shanghai, China: quantitative analysis of changes by mortalities in different age groups and specific diseases

Abstract

Objective: Life expectancy had increased from 73.16 to 79.82 years in men and 77.74 to 84.44 years in women during 1990-2010 in Shanghai. The elevating rate was faster than that of most developed countries. This study is to access life expectancy increasedin Shanghai by different age groups and specific diseases.

Methods: Arriaga’s decomposition methods were applied to life tables and mortality data (1990-2010) to estimate changes in life expectancy.

Results: The largest contributions lied on elderly population (60 years old & above) (4.79-year in men and 4.90-year in women). During 1990-2000, reductions in mortality of respiratory system diseases, especially in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), contributed 1.36-year increase in men and 1.16-year increase in women. During 2000-2010, reductions in mortality of circulatory system diseases, especially in cerebrovascular disease (CVD), contributed 0.82-year increase in men and 1.08-year increase in women.

Conclusions: Rapid increases in life expectancy were mostly achieved by declining mortality in aged population and chronic noncommunicable diseases (CND), nevertheless CND were still the main causes of death in Shanghai, which implicated that the prevention strategies for chronic diseases was effective and should be persevered for a long time in the future.