Why is Life Expectancy in Busan Shorter than in Seoul? Age and Cause-Specific Contributions to the Difference in Life Expectancy between Two Cities
10.3349/ymj.2019.60.7.687
- Author:
Young Ho KHANG
1
;
Jinwook BAHK
Author Information
1. Department of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cause of death;
life expectancy;
mortality;
Republic of Korea;
Seoul
- MeSH:
Aged;
Busan;
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Cause of Death;
Female;
Humans;
Korea;
Life Expectancy;
Life Tables;
Methods;
Mortality;
Republic of Korea;
Seoul
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2019;60(7):687-693
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Seoul and Busan are the two largest cities in Korea. However, life expectancy (LE) in Busan is shorter than in Seoul and among the total Korean population. This study was conducted to decompose age- and cause-specific contributions to the LE difference between Seoul and Busan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained population and mortality data for Seoul and Busan between 2015 and 2017 from Statistics Korea. We applied Arriaga's decomposition method to life table data to estimate age- and cause-specific contributions to the LE difference between Seoul and Busan. RESULTS: During 2015–2017, LE in Busan was shorter than in Seoul by 2.22 years. Roughly two-thirds of the LE gap between Seoul and Busan was due to excess mortality among elderly people in Busan. The ≥85 age group alone contributed to approximately 20% of the LE gap, while no meaningful contribution was made by the 1–24 age groups. Cardiovascular disease accounted for over 40% of the total LE gap between Seoul and Busan, and this factor was more prominent in women. The top 15 leading specific causes of deaths explained nearly the entire LE difference between Seoul and Busan. CONCLUSION: The difference in LE between Seoul and Busan was due to higher mortality rate in Busan than in Seoul, especially in the elderly population and from cardiovascular diseases. Information on age- and cause-specific contributions to the LE difference between Seoul and Busan may guide health policy-makers to plan strategies for reducing the gap in LE.
