Icelanders Enjoy Top Spot on Wellness Chart ... US is 47th

[Crabtownboy]

I wish the news were better here in the US.

(April 30) -- Iceland gets top billing in a comprehensive new report on worldwide health statistics. The country has the lowest adult death rate for men under 60, and one of the lowest for women.

The study, published in this week's Lancet, calculated the risk of death for people ages 15 to 59. In Iceland, 64.9 out of 1,000 men and 44.2 out of 1,000 women will likely die before turning 60.

Compare that impressive statistic to the United States, which ranked 47th overall. Here, 130 men and 77.5 women in 1,000 will die before the age of 60. That's well behind other Western countries like England, and also leaves us trailing Cuba, Libya and Algeria -- and narrowly edging out Iraq.

While the United States is "definitely on the wrong trajectory," according to Chris Murray, one of the study's authors, Iceland seems to be the top destination for those hoping to make it to old age.

"The coverage and quality of clinical health care is high," according to a 2000 report on Iceland from the World Health Organization. Health care in the country is largely government-financed, with patients shelling out around 15 percent of treatment costs for specialists.

http://www.aolnews.com/health/artic...lness-chart-and-long-life-expectancy/19460205

 

[Gold Dragon]

The study only looked at adult mortality rates. While the US can do better in this area, this one figure doesn't say a whole lot about the health care system as a whole. I'd say it is more of a statement about violent crime, motor vehicle accidents and war than it is about managing chronic disease.

It is also easy for wealthy countries with small populations and small land masses to perform well on health metrics because the cost of delivery and socioeconomic contributors factors of health are significantly easier to manage.

 

[Mexdeaf]

Great, may I suggest a relocation of all political liberals from the USA to there? Should be win-win, as I see it.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Great, may I suggest a relocation of all political liberals from the USA to there? Should be win-win, as I see it.

Or you guys could just all move to South Carolina. Should be a good fit.

 

[Mexdeaf]

Or you guys could just all move to South Carolina. Should be a good fit.

I prefer Texas- they know how to fight and win.:laugh: