There is also a larger gap in health outcomes between rich and poor in the US than in England, researchers from the University of Michigan and University College London found, according to a statement released Monday.
Rates of diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, and mental health conditions among high-income middle-aged people in the US are higher than among 50-year-olds in England.
This despite the fact that these people earn almost twice as much after tax as higher income people in England, with the top 10% in the US taking home $ 144,000 per year compared to $ 71,000 for the English.
However, it is at the bottom of the income scale, The biggest differences are noticeable, with English at the lowest 20% income level in better health than poorer American residents of the same age. This gap, in addition, could indicate why Covid-19 has had a more devastating impact on low-income Americans.
“It is more impactful and more evident among low-income adults,” said Dr. Kenneth Langa, professor of internal medicine, gerontology, and health management and policy at the University of Michigan School of Medicine.
High blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes, heart problems, strokes, chronic lung diseases, and mental health conditions were more prevalent among low-income Americans than their English counterparts.
The gap between rich and poor
Health outcomes improved with income in both countries, but there were greater disparities between rich and poor in the United States.
Both countries have a problem with inequality, but the disparities are probably worse in the US than in other high-income countries, the researchers told CNN.
“The shocking difference between rich and poor in both countries is something that needs to be addressed,” Langa said.
“It has especially widened in the United States, this gap between rich and poor is even more of a public health emergency.”
The researchers found that the disparities persisted even when adjusting for factors such as gender, race, and marital status.
They focused on middle-aged American residents because older people are eligible for Medicare medical coverage. In the UK, everyone has access to health care under the National Health Service.
Impact of coronavirus on low-income US residents
The findings may also help explain why low-income US residents have been hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, Langa explained.
“Some of the disparities we found among low and high-income Americans, such as increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, and higher levels of inflammation, likely contribute to a much higher risk of COVID-related complications and death among the poor,” he said. .
According to the study, low-income American residents are also more likely to find it difficult to buy, cook and manage their money than those with higher incomes, as well as English people with similar incomes.
Financial stress can exacerbate worse health-related behaviors, such as smoking and an unhealthy diet, which can contribute to serious health problems, the authors said.
More worryingly, the situation seems to be getting worse.
“Even in cohorts younger than baby boomers, those in their forties, their health is truly shocking,” said HwaJung Choi, an assistant professor of internal medicine research at the University of Michigan School of Medicine.
Langa agreed that American trends are not looking good. “Things are looking bad now and are likely to get even worse,” he said.
To meet these challenges, governments should work to reduce income inequality and improve other factors such as access to education and employment, Langa said.
“These are more important problems than simply who receives medical attention,” he said.
The inequality continues even under England’s National Health Service shows that a holistic approach is needed, the researchers said.
“It should probably be beyond health policy,” added Choi.
There have been few studies doing these kinds of apple-to-apple comparisons, the authors said, but it looks like that will change.
There are now more than 30 countries collecting data that will allow for further comparisons of this type as part of a network of studies.
Observing these trends will allow researchers to determine the effects of public health policies, an aging population, or health crises, such as the coronavirus pandemic, Langa explained.
The researchers will also expand the work by targeting high-income countries to low-income countries, such as India, China, and Mexico.
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