Americans twice more likely than English to contract diabetes

Thu, 04 Nov 2010
A major new study has found that, although the English are much more healthy when they reach retirement age than Americans of the same age, they are more likely to die earlier due to poorer healthcare . It also revealed that people in the US are twice as likely to contract diabetes and a third more likely to develop cancer than those of a similar age in England. However, a 65-year old Americans would be expected to live for around three months longer on average.

The research, by US research thinktank the Rand Corporation and the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) in London, indicated that although the English may have a healthier lifestyle than people in the US, the healthcare system in America can better resolve any health problems.

The study, which involved analysing information about 32,000 from two comparable surveys of people aged 50 and over in the United States and England, revealed significant differences in the prevalence of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack, heart disease, stroke, cancer and chronic lung diseases .

Jim Smith, lead author at the, said "Americans are so much sicker but they make up for it with much more aggressive and expensive healthcare. We are spending twice as much as England on health and we are getting the benefit of the extra years of life. If English people spent the same amount I have no doubt people would live a lot longer. That is a choice they will have to make."
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