THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT INEQUALITIES IN LIFE EXPECTANCY AND HEALTHY LIFE EXPECTANCY ACROSS SCOTLAND
The NRS suggests that this decline may also be partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has increased the prevalence of long-term health conditions and disabilities among survivors of the infection. However, other factors may also contribute to this decline, such as the rising burden of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, respiratory diseases and mental health problems, as well as the social determinants of health such as poverty, deprivation, education and employment.
There are also significant inequalities in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy across Scotland, depending on the geographic area and the level of deprivation. For example:
• For males, life expectancy at birth was highest in Orkney Islands (80.7 years) and lowest in Glasgow City (72.0 years) in 2019-2021. For females, it was highest in East Renfrewshire (84.3 years) and lowest in Glasgow City (78.3 years).
• For males, healthy life expectancy at birth was highest in Orkney Islands (71.0 years) and
lowest in Inverclyde (54.3 years) in 2019-2021. For females, it was highest in East Dunbartonshire (67.5 years) and lowest in West Dunbartonshire (54.4 years).
• In the most deprived areas of Scotland, both males and females spend more than a third of their life in poor health. In the least deprived areas, they both spend around 15% of their life in good health.
• Healthy life expectancy in the most deprived areas of Scotland was more than 25 years lower than in the least deprived areas for both males and females in 2019-2021.
These inequalities reflect the wider social and economic disparities that exist in Scotland, which have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. They also highlight the need for more targeted and holistic interventions to address the root causes of poor health and wellbeing among different groups and communities.
Implications for pharmacy The declining trends and inequalities in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy in
Scotland have important implications for pharmacy practice and policy. As a key provider of health care services in the community, pharmacy can play a vital role in improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities among different populations.
Some of the ways that pharmacy can contribute to this goal are:
• Providing accessible and high-quality services such as smoking cessation, weight management, alcohol intervention, needle exchange, emergency hormonal contraception, minor ailments, medication review, chronic disease management, vaccination, screening and testing.
• Promoting health literacy and self-care among patients and the public, by providing clear and accurate information on health risks, prevention strategies, treatment options, adherence support, lifestyle advice and signposting to other sources of help.
• Collaborating with other health professionals and agencies to deliver integrated and holistic care that addresses the physical, mental and social needs of patients, especially those with complex or multiple conditions or vulnerabilities.
A call for action Government policies that support the development and recognition of pharmacy as a profession can make a positive difference to public health.
Expanding the scope of practice, enhancing training and education, increasing funding and remuneration, ensuring workforce sustainability and diversity, strengthening regulation and governance, and facilitating research and innovation can help to improve the quality and quantity of life for people in Scotland, as well as contribute to the wider goals of health equity and social justice.
Sources: [Life Expectancy in Scotland, 2019-2021 - National Records of Scotland] (
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and- data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/life-expectancy/life-expectanc y-in-scotland/2019-2021)
[Healthy Life Expectancy in Scotland, 2019-2021 - National
Records of Scotland] (
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics- and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/life-expectancy/healthy-li fe-expectancy-in-scotland/2019-2021)
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