An Exploration of Productivity Costs and Years of Potential Life Lost: Understanding the Impact of Premature Mortality From Injury in Mongolia

This study estimates the years of potential life lost (YPLL), years of potential productive life lost (YPPLL), and cost of productivity loss (CPL) owing to injury-related mortalities in Mongolia. By implementing a retrospective cohort study, the study used secondary mortality data for Mongolia from 2016 to 2020 from the Health Development Center. Our study incorporates information on 13 551 fatalities from injuries and external factors, with the aim of estimating YPLL, YPPLL, and CPL associated with the leading causes injury-induced deaths. These include exposure to toxic substances, road accidents, homicides, suicides, and falls. Our findings reveal majority of the losses occur because of exposure to poisonous chemicals, road accidents, suicides, falls, and homicides. Furthermore, 444 550 years of potential life are lost owing to injury-related mortalities, in which YPPLL accounts for 338 482 years. The CPL caused by these premature deaths during the study period accounts for $1.368 billion. Notably, YPLL, YPPLL, and CPL rates are significantly higher in males than in females. The YPLL from exposure to poisonous chemicals is higher than those caused by other factors. This study is the first to calculate the CPL owing to YPLL from injury in Mongolia.

A Comprehensive 16-Year Analysis of National Center for Health Statistics Data on the Top Three Causes of Death Before Age 75 by Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin

OBJECTIVE

 This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive 16-year analysis of years of potential life lost (YPLL) due to leading causes of death in the United States, focusing on disparities by sex, race/ethnicity, and specific causes of death using the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) data.

METHODS

 Data from the NCHS spanning 2000-2016 were included. Age-adjusted YPLL rates per 100,000 population were analyzed, stratified by sex, race/ethnicity, and leading causes of death, including malignant neoplasms, heart disease, and cerebrovascular diseases.

RESULTS

 Over 16 years, the total YPLL rate was 7,036.2 per 100,000 population. Males had a higher YPLL rate (8,852.5 per 100,000) than females (5,259.9 per 100,000). Among racial/ethnic groups, Black/African Americans had the highest YPLL rate (10,896.8 per 100,000), followed by American Indian/Alaska Natives (7,310.0 per 100,000), Hispanics/Latinos (5,256.8 per 100,000), and Asians/Pacific Islanders (3,279.7 per 100,000). Leading causes included malignant neoplasms (1,451.6 per 100,000), heart diseases (1,055.4 per 100,000), and cerebrovascular diseases (182.3 per 100,000).

CONCLUSION

This analysis spanning 16 years highlights notable disparities in YPLL rates among different demographic groups. These differences are evident in the YPLL rates for males, which are higher than those for females. The YPLL rate is most pronounced among Black/African Americans, followed by American Indian/Alaska Natives, Hispanics/Latinos, and Asians/Pacific Islanders. The primary contributors to YPLL are malignant neoplasms, heart diseases, and cerebrovascular diseases. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing these disparities to enhance public health outcomes and mitigate the premature loss of life. Despite progress, disparities persist, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and further research.

Sex and Race Disparities in Mortality and Years of Potential Life Lost Among People With HIV: A 21-Year Observational Cohort Study

Background

Since the availability of antiretroviral therapy, mortality rates among people with HIV (PWH) have decreased; however, this does not quantify premature deaths among PWH, and disparities persist.

Methods

We examined all-cause and premature mortality among PWH receiving care at the Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic from January 1998 to December 2018. Mortality rates were compared by demographic and clinical factors, and adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) were calculated using multivariable Poisson regression. For individuals who died, age-adjusted years of potential life lost (aYPLL) per total person-years living with HIV were calculated from US sex-specific life tables, and sex and race differences were examined using multivariable linear regression.

Results

Among 6531 individuals (51% non-Hispanic [NH] White race, 40% NH Black race, 21% cis-gender women, 78% cis-gender men) included, 956 (14.6%) died. In adjusted analysis, PWH alive in the most recent calendar era (2014-2018) had decreased risk of mortality compared with those in the earliest calendar era (1998-2003; aIRR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.17-0.29), and women had increased risk of death compared with men (aIRR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.12-1.54). Of those who died, Black women had the highest aYPLL (aIRR, 592.5; 95% CI, 588.4-596.6), followed by Black men (aIRR, 470.7; 95% CI, 468.4-472.9), White women (aIRR, 411.5; 95% CI, 405.6-417.4), then White men (aIRR, 308.6; 95% CI, 308.0-309.2). In adjusted models, higher YPLL remained associated with NH Black race and cis-gender women, regardless of HIV risk factor.

Conclusions

Despite marked improvement over time, sex disparities in mortality as well as sex and race disparities in YPLL remained among PWH in this cohort.

Life expectancy and years of potential life lost in bipolar disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There is increasing research examining excess mortality in people with bipolar disorder using life expectancy and related measures, which quantify the disease impact on survival. However, there has been no meta-analysis to date summarising existing data on life expectancy in those with bipolar disorder.

AIMS

To systematically review and quantitatively synthesise estimates of life expectancy and years of potential life lost (YPLL) in people with bipolar disorder.

METHOD

We searched Embase, Medline, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases up to 31 March 2021. We generated pooled life expectancy using random-effects models, and derived YPLL summary estimate by calculating averaged values weighted by sample size of individual studies. Subgroup analyses were conducted for gender, geographical region, study period, a given age (set-age) for lifespan estimation and causes of death. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021241705).

RESULTS

Eleven and 13 studies were included in the review for life expectancy (n = 96 601) and YPLL (n = 128 989), respectively. Pooled life expectancy was 66.88 years (95% CI 64.47-69.28; I² = 99.9%, P < 0.001), was higher in women than men (70.51 (95% CI 68.61-72.41) v. 64.59 (95% CI 61.16-68.03); z = 2.00, P = 0.003) and was lowest in Africa. Weighted average YPLL was 12.89 years (95% CI 12.72-13.07), and was greatest in Africa. More YPLL was observed when lifespan was estimated at birth than at other set-age. YPLLs attributable to natural and unnatural deaths were 5.94 years (95% CI 5.81-6.07) and 5.69 years (95% CI 5.59-5.79), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Bipolar disorder is associated with substantially shortened life expectancy. Implementation of multilevel, targeted interventions is urgently needed to reduce this mortality gap.

Burden of COVID-19 Mortality and Morbidity in Poland in 2020

In 2020 COVID-19 caused 41,442 deaths in Poland. We aimed to estimate the burden of COVID-19 using years of potential life lost (YPLL) and quality-adjusted years of life lost (QALYL). YPLL were calculated by multiplying the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the analyzed age/sex group by the residual life expectancy for that group. Standard and country-specific (local) life tables were used to calculate SPYLL and LPYLL, respectively. QALYL were calculated adjusting LPYLL due to COVID-19 death by age/sex specific utility values. Deaths from COVID-19 in Poland in 2020 caused loss of 630,027 SPYLL, 436,361 LPYLL, and 270,572 QALYL. The loss was greater among men and rose with age reaching the maximum among men aged 65–69 and among women aged 70–74. Burden of COVID-19 in terms of YPLL is proportionate to external-cause deaths and was higher than the burden of disease in the respiratory system. Differential effects by sex and age indicate important heterogeneities in the mortality effects of COVID-19 and justifies policies based not only on age, but also on sex. Comparison with YPLL due to other diseases showed that mortality from COVID-19 represents a substantial burden on both society and on individuals in Poland.

Economic burden of lives lost due to COVID-19 in California State

Aim: To examine the economic impact of lives lost due to the coronavirus pandemic across California and Los Angeles (LA) County. Patients & methods: Years of potential life lost (YPLL) and the value of statistical life (VSL) were calculated using mortality data from the California Department of Public Health, the LA County Department of Public Health and the Social Security Administration websites. Results: In California and LA County, the average YPLL per person were 14.3 and 14.7 and the VSLs were approximately US$219.9 billion and $82.7 billion, respectively. YPLL and VSL were greatest for Latinos aged 50-64. Conclusion: The economic burden of lives lost due to the coronavirus across California and LA County is substantial. Latinos aged 50-64 were most affected.

Mortality and Years of Potential Life Lost Due to COVID-19 in Brazil

In November 2020, Brazil ranked third in the number of cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and second in the number of deaths due to the disease. We carried out a descriptive study of deaths, mortality rate, years of potential life lost (YPLL) and excess mortality due to COVID-19, based on SARS-CoV-2 records in SIVEP-Gripe (Ministry of Health of Brazil) from 16 February 2020, to 1 January 2021. In this period, there were 98,025 deaths from COVID-19 in Brazil. Men accounted for 60.5% of the estimated 1.2 million YPLLs. High YPLL averages showed prematurity of deaths. The population aged 45–64 years (both sexes) represented more than 50% of all YPLLs. Risk factors were present in 69.5% of deaths, with heart disease, diabetes and obesity representing the most prevalent comorbidities in both sexes. Indigenous people had the lowest number of deaths and the highest average YPLL. However, in indigenous people, pregnant women and mothers had an average YPLL of over 35 years. The excess mortality for Brazil was estimated at 122,914 deaths (9.2%). The results show that the social impacts of YPLL due to COVID-19 are different depending on gender, race and risk factors. YPLL and excess mortality can be used to guide the prioritization of health interventions, such as prioritization of vaccination, lockdowns, or distribution of facial masks for the most vulnerable populations.

Economic burden of lives lost due to COVID-19 in New York State

Aim: To examine the economic impact of lives lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic across New York State. Materials & methods: Death counts by age range and period life expectancy were extracted from the NYS Department of Health, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Social Security Administration website. Years of potential life lost and value of statistical life (VSL) were calculated. Results: The average years of potential life lost per person was 12.72 and 15.13, and the VSL was US$119.62 and 90.45 billion, in NYS and NYC, respectively. VSL was greatest in Queens and Brooklyn, followed by the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island. Conclusion: New York City, specifically Queens and Brooklyn, bore the greatest economic burden of lives lost across the state.

Male-Female Disparities in Years of Potential Life Lost Attributable to COVID-19 in the United States: A State-by-State Analysis

Males are at higher risk relative to females of severe outcomes following COVID-19 infection. Focusing on COVID-19-attributable mortality in the United States (U.S.), we quantify and contrast years of potential life lost (YPLL) attributable to COVID-19 by sex based on data from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics as of 31 March 2021, specifically by contrasting male and female percentages of total YPLL with their respective percent population shares and calculating age-adjusted male-to-female YPLL rate ratios both nationally and for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Using YPLL before age 75 to anchor comparisons between males and females and a novel Monte Carlo simulation procedure to perform estimation and uncertainty quantification, our results reveal a near-universal pattern across states of higher COVID-19-attributable YPLL among males compared to females. Furthermore, the disproportionately high COVID-19 mortality burden among males is generally more pronounced when measuring mortality in terms of YPLL compared to age-irrespective death counts, reflecting dual phenomena of males dying from COVID-19 at higher rates and at systematically younger ages relative to females. The U.S. COVID-19 epidemic also offers lessons underscoring the importance of a public health environment that recognizes sex-specific needs as well as different patterns in risk factors, health behaviors, and responses to interventions between men and women. Public health strategies incorporating focused efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccinations among men are particularly urged.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Years of Potential Life Lost Attributable to COVID-19 in the United States: An Analysis of 45 States and the District of Columbia

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in the United States has disproportionately impacted communities of color across the country. Focusing on COVID-19-attributable mortality, we expand upon a national comparative analysis of years of potential life lost (YPLL) attributable to COVID-19 by race/ethnicity (Bassett et al., 2020), estimating percentages of total YPLL for non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics, non-Hispanic Asians, and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Natives, contrasting them with their respective percent population shares, as well as age-adjusted YPLL rate ratios—anchoring comparisons to non-Hispanic Whites—in each of 45 states and the District of Columbia using data from the National Center for Health Statistics as of 30 December 2020. Using a novel Monte Carlo simulation procedure to perform estimation, our results reveal substantial racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19-attributable YPLL across states, with a prevailing pattern of non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics experiencing disproportionately high and non-Hispanic Whites experiencing disproportionately low COVID-19-attributable YPLL. Furthermore, estimated disparities are generally more pronounced when measuring mortality in terms of YPLL compared to death counts, reflecting the greater intensity of the disparities at younger ages. We also find substantial state-to-state variability in the magnitudes of the estimated racial/ethnic disparities, suggesting that they are driven in large part by social determinants of health whose degree of association with race/ethnicity varies by state.

Estimates of the value of life lost from COVID-19 in Ohio

The economic burden of mortality due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) extends beyond the lives lost. Data from the Ohio Department of Public Health and Social Security Administration was used to estimate the years of potential life lost, 72,274 and economic value of those lost lives, US$17.39 billion. These estimates may be used to assess the risk-trade off of COVID-19 mitigation strategies in Ohio.

Productivity costs associated with metastatic breast cancer in younger, midlife, and older women

BACKGROUND

The objective of the current study was to estimate productivity costs due to metastatic breast cancer (mBC) via productive time lost among survivors and potential life-years lost from premature mortality among 3 age groups: younger (aged 18-44 years), midlife (aged 45-64 years), and older (aged ≥65 years) women.

METHODS

The authors estimated the number of work and home productivity days missed due to mBC by age group using data from the 2000 to 2016 National Health Interview Survey. Years of potential life lost (YPLL) due to mBC were calculated for each age group using 2015 National Vital Statistics System data. The authors valued both sources of lost productivity time using the Current Population Survey and prior studies.

RESULTS

The per-woman value of lost productive days (work and home) due to mBC ranged from $680 for older women to $5169 for younger women. In 2015, the value of lost work and home productivity days associated with mBC nationally was $67 million for younger women, $246 million for midlife women, and $66 million for older women. YPLL were highest among midlife women (403,786 life-years), followed by older women (248,522 life-years) and younger women (95,943 life-years). Midlife women were found to have the highest market value of YPLL ($4.1 billion), followed by younger women ($1.6 billion) and older women ($527 million).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current study demonstrated that mBC generates a high economic burden through lost productivity, especially among midlife women.

Trends in Suicide Mortality in South Africa, 1997 to 2016

Suicide rates worldwide are declining; however, less is known about the patterns and trends in mortality from suicide in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluates trends in suicide rates and years of potential life lost from death registration data in South Africa from 1997 to 2016. Suicide (X60–X84 and Y87) was coded using the 10th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Changes in mortality rate trends were analysed using joinpoint regression analysis. The 20-year study examines 8573 suicides in South Africa, comprising 0.1% of all deaths involving persons 15 years and older. Rates of suicide per 100,000 population were 2.07 in men and 0.49 in women. Joinpoint regression analyses showed that, while the overall mortality rate for male suicides remained stable, mortality rates due to hanging and poisoning increased by 3.9% and 3.5% per year, respectively. Female suicide mortality rates increased by 12.6% from 1997 to 2004 before stabilising; while rates due to hanging increased by 3.0% per year. The average annual YPLL due to suicide was 9559 in men and 2612 in women. The results show that suicide contributes substantially to premature death and demonstrates the need for targeted interventions, especially among young men in South Africa.

Years of Life and Productivity Loss Because of Adult Sudden Unexpected Death in the United States

BACKGROUND

Few studies have evaluated the years of life lost (YLL) and productivity loss due to sudden unexpected death (SUD). The burden of SUD on society is undetermined because of lack of population-based studies and comprehensive adjudication methods.

OBJECTIVE

We estimated YLL and productivity loss from SUD in working-age adults and compared it with the leading causes of death in the United States.

METHODS

We screened all out of hospital deaths among people aged 20-64 in Wake County, NC from 2013 to 2015 to adjudicate SUDs. We extrapolated Wake County incidence to estimate the age-standardized and sex-standardized rate of SUD in the United States. YLL was calculated based on the remaining life expectancy of the victims. Incorporating market and housekeeping value estimated the present value of lifetime productivity loss because of SUD.

RESULTS

SUD incidence rates in the US adults aged 20-64 were 49.3 (95% confidence interval, 41.2-58.3) and 21.7 (95% confidence interval, 16.5-27.8) per 100,000 among men and women, respectively. SUD resulted in the loss of 2 million years of life, accounting for 10.0% of YLL from all causes of death. Among natural causes of death, YLL from SUD was only lower than that from all cancers combined and heart disease. Lifetime productivity loss because of SUD was ~$51 billion, exceeding productivity loss from any individual cancer.

CONCLUSION

SUD is an important source of YLL and productivity loss among adults aged 20-64. Such a high burden on society justifies prioritizing health policies and interventions toward preventing SUD.

Years of life lost due to asthma in a population-based 10-year study in Yazd, Iran

INTRODUCTION

Asthma is a prevalent disease in both children and adults. Significant progress in the management of asthma and prevention of asthmatic attacks resulted in a reduction of asthma deaths, but there is a variation among different regions based on health-care access and environmental factors. We aimed to investigate the trend of asthma mortality during a 10-year period in Yazd Province, a region in the center of Iran.

METHODS

We obtained our data from the death registry of Yazd health center. This registry collects data from hospitals, clinics, forensic medicine department, and cemeteries. All deaths due to asthma from 2002 to 2011 were included in our study. We used the remaining life expectancy of each person at death and sex group to calculate the years of life lost (YLL) due to asthma.

RESULTS

Nearly 10,371 years of life was lost due to asthma in our study (M/F ratio of 1.29). Asthma mortality rate increased with age, rising sharply after age 50. Average YLL per death was 18.6 years. Asthma mortality rate decreased from 6.66/100,000 in 2002 to 3.97 in 2011. YLL from asthma among men decreased from 796 in 2002 to 338 in 2011, but among women, it showed an increase from 335 to 534 at the same time.

CONCLUSION

The trend of reduction in asthma mortality is not similar between different age and gender groups. Further studies are needed to determine the cause of increasing trend among more vulnerable groups.

Burden of premature mortality caused by four main non-communicable diseases in Ukraine

OBJECTIVE

Introduction: The scale and socio-economic implications of the non-communicable diseases (NCD) epidemic are growing in Ukraine. The aim: To determine the mode of mortality resulted from main non-communicable diseases in Ukraine, calculate and estimate the number of years of potential life lost (YPLL) due to premature mortality from them.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and Methods: The information base of the study was official data of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine on the distribution of the deceased by gender, age groups and causes of death in 2016 and World Health Statistics 2016 data. The method of potential demography was used to estimate demographic losses.

RESULTS

Review: The years of potential life lost for Ukrainian men is more than twice as high as that of women. For each case of death in the range of 30-69 years, an average of 10.3 years of potential life is lost. The group at the working age limit 55-59 years gives the most significant loss in terms of the contribution in the range of 30-69 years. The structural share of the contribution of main NCD to the burden of premature deaths gradually increases with age and accumulation of chronic pathology.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: As a result of the deaths caused by four main NCD in the range of 30-69 years in Ukraine in 2016, 1572.793 thousand of person-years or almost 56% of losses due to all causes of death at the same age were lost in Ukraine.

Lung cancer mortality and years of potential life lost among males and females over six decades in a country with high smoking prevalence: an observational study

BACKGROUND

Little is known about sex-specific trends in lung cancer mortality and years of potential life lost (YPLL) attributable to lung cancer over more than five decades. The aim of the present study was to describe mortality and YPLL due to lung cancer over 61 years of observation in a country with a high smoking prevalence.

METHODS

We obtained data on trends in lung cancer mortality, population-level vital statistics, sales of taxed tobacco products, and survey data on smoking behavior among the German population. We then undertook joinpoint regression analyses to determine sex-specific trends in lung cancer mortality and YPLL.

RESULTS

Rates of lung cancer mortality and rates of lung cancer among all causes of death increased more among females than among males. Although YPLL among females increased from 6.6 in 1952 to 11.3 in 2012, this figure was found to have decreased from 7.3 to 4.4 among males in the same period. Sales of tobacco subject to tax increased from 1,509 cigarette equivalents per resident aged 15 or older in 1952 to 2,916 in 1976 - after which there was a decline. The prevalence of current smoking among females aged 35 years or older remained stable between 17.9 and 18.9 % in the period from 1989 to 2009. Among males in the same age group, however, prevalence decreased from 36.7 % in 1989 to 27.5 % in 2009.

CONCLUSIONS

Lung cancer mortality and YPLL among females increased over the six decades studied. Women should be more considered in smoking policies.

Years of potential life lost for brain and CNS tumors relative to other cancers in adults in the United States, 2010

BACKGROUND

Years of potential life lost (YPLL) complement incidence and survival rates by measuring how much a patient's life is likely to be shortened by his or her cancer. In this study, we examine the impact of death due to brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors compared to other common cancers in adults by investigating the YPLL of adults in the United States.

METHODS

Mortality and life table data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics Vital Statistics Data for 2010. The study population included individuals aged 20 years or older at death who died from one of the selected cancers. YPLL was calculated by taking an individual's age at death and finding the corresponding expected remaining years of life using life table data.

RESULTS

The cancers with the greatest mean YPLL were other malignant CNS tumors (20.65), malignant brain tumors (19.93), and pancreatic cancer (15.13) for males and malignant brain tumors (20.31), breast cancer (18.78), and other malignant CNS tumors (18.36) for females. For both sexes, non-Hispanic whites had the lowest YPLL, followed by non-Hispanic blacks, and Hispanics.

CONCLUSION

Malignant brain and other CNS tumors have the greatest mean YPLL, thereby reflecting their short survival time post diagnosis. These findings will hopefully motivate more research into mitigating the impact of these debilitating tumors.

Years of life lived with disease and years of potential life lost in children who die of cancer in the United States, 2009

Incidence and survival rates are commonly reported statistics, but these may fail to capture the full impact of childhood cancers. We describe the years of potential life lost (YPLL) and years of life lived with disease (YLLD) in children and adolescents who died of cancer in the United States to estimate the impact of childhood cancer in the United States in 2009. We examined mortality data in 2009 among children and adolescents <20 years old in both the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) datasets. YPLL and YLLD were calculated for all deaths due to cancer. Histology-specific YPLL and YLLD of central nervous system (CNS) tumors, leukemia, and lymphoma were estimated using SEER. There were 2233 deaths and 153,390.4 YPLL due to neoplasm in 2009. CNS tumors were the largest cause of YPLL (31%) among deaths due to cancer and were the cause of 1.4% of YPLL due to all causes. For specific histologies, the greatest mean YPLL per death was due to atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (78.0 years lost). The histology with the highest mean YLLD per death in children and adolescents who died of cancer was primitive neuroectodermal tumor (4.6 years lived). CNS tumors are the most common solid malignancy in individuals <20 years old and have the highest YPLL cost of all cancers. This offers the first histology-specific description of YPLL in children and adolescents and proposes a new measure of cancer impact, YLLD, in individuals who die of their disease. YPLL and YLLD complement traditional indicators of mortality and help place CNS tumors in the context of other childhood malignancies.

Disease burdens from environmental tobacco smoke in Korean adults

In this study, we estimated the disease burdens attributable to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in Korean adults in 2010 and analyzed the trend of that from 2005 to 2010. We obtained information on the study population from the 2010 Cause of Death Statistic and estimated the ETS-attributable fraction using data from the Korean Community Health Survey and the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The numbers of ETS-attributable deaths in female and male non-smokers were estimated to be 4.1 and 69.6% of the numbers of deaths attributable to current smoke, respectively. The deaths attributable to ETS were larger in female than in male non-smokers (710 vs. 420). The ETS-attributable deaths increased slightly in 2005-2008 but decreased in 2009-2010. The number of potential years of life lost from ETS was 9077.24 years in 2010. If there were no exposure to ETS in adult non-smokers, we would expect to see 1130 fewer deaths (9.9% of the deaths from current smoke). The results suggest that ETS poses considerable disease burdens for non-smokers, especially women, in Korea.

Diseases attributable to asbestos exposure: years of potential life lost, United States, 1999-2010

BACKGROUND

Although asbestos use has been restricted in recent decades, asbestos-associated deaths continue to occur in the United States.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated premature mortality and loss of potentially productive years of life attributable to asbestos-associated diseases.

METHODS

Using 1999-2010 National Center for Health Statistics mortality data, we identified decedents aged ≥25 years whose death certificate listed asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma as the underlying cause of death. We computed years of potential life lost to life expectancy (YPLL) and to age 65 (YPLL65 ).

RESULTS

During 1999-2010, a total of 427,005 YPLL and 55,184 YPLL65 were attributed to asbestosis (56,907 YPLL and 2,167 YPLL65 ), malignant mesothelioma (370,098 YPPL and 53,017 YPLL65 ). Overall and disease-specific asbestos-attributable total YPLL and YPLL65 and median YPLL and YPLL65 per decedent did not change significantly from 1999 to 2010.

CONCLUSIONS

The continuing occurrence of asbestos-associated diseases and their substantial premature mortality burden underscore the need for maintaining prevention efforts and for ongoing surveillance to monitor temporal trends in these diseases.

Life expectancy in police officers: a comparison with the U.S. general population

Previous epidemiological research indicates that police officers have an elevated risk of death relative to the general population overall and for several specific causes. Despite the increased risk for mortality found in previous research, controversy still exists over the life expectancy of police officers. The goal of the present study was to compare life expectancy of male police officers from Buffalo New York with the U.S. general male population utilizing an abridged life table method. On average, the life expectancy of Buffalo police officers in our sample was significantly lower than the U.S. population (mean difference in life expectancy = 21.9 years; 95% CI: 14.5-29.3; p < 0.0001). Life expectancy of police officers was shorter and differences were more pronounced in younger age categories. Additionally, police officers had a significantly higher average probability of death than did males in the general population (mean difference = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.26-0.54; p < 0.0001). The years of potential life lost (YPLL) for police officers was 21 times larger than that of the general population (Buffalo male officers vs. U.S. males = 21.7, 95% CI: 5.8-37.7). Possible reasons for shorter life expectancy among police are discussed, including stress, shift work, obesity, and hazardous environmental work exposures.