Sabahans life expectancy could be 2 years shorter than in 2010 - study

 

The life expectancy for newborn Sabahans could be two years shorter in 2020, compared to a decade ago, a study has found.

Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) discovered that life expectancy for Sabah men dropped from 75 years for those born in 2010 - the highest at that time - to 73 for those born in 2020.

Likewise, Sabah women's life expectancy also dropped from 78.3 years for those born in 2010 - also the highest then - to 76 years in 2020.

However, KRI recommended caution in interpreting the Sabah data, citing the Department of Statistics' explanation that data on death registration in the state were incomplete due to high physical barriers, with many locations isolated and hard to reach.

If the figures are accurate, however, life expectancy for newborn Sabahan boys has dropped from the highest to fifth place, while a girl's life expectancy dropped from the highest to third lowest in the country.

The only other state demographic to have reduced life expectancy is Perlis, with men born this year expected to live 69.2 years compared to 69.6 years in 2010. Perlis women's life expectancy increased 0.1 years on average in 2020.

The statistics in other states improved across the board, although men in Terengganu, and Kelantan still had a life expectancy below 70.

On average, however, the study notes that Malaysian life expectancy at birth has increased by 11 years for men, and 12 years for women, compared to 1970.

Child mortality rates have also decreased significantly since 1970, with neonatal deaths down 81 percent, infant mortality 83.8 percent lower, and under-five mortality down 86.2 percent.

"However, these indicators have gradually increased in the last decade. Neonatal, infant and under-five mortality rates each recorded more than a two percent average annual growth from 2014 to 2018, while 2019 figures recorded a decline," KRI said.

KRI also noted that while Malaysians were living longer, this does not necessarily mean they are living healthier.

"Although a baby born in 2019 can expect to live up to 75 years, 9.5 years of those years would be spent in poor health," it said.

Of note, more Malaysians are dying of heart disease and cancer in 2019 compared to 1990, while the number of deaths due to respiratory infections or tuberculosis has more than doubled in the last two decades.

The findings were part of the Social Inequalities and Health Malaysia study which was published on Tuesday.

In the study, KRI found a correlation between household income and health outcomes, with adults in lower-income groups reporting a higher prevalence of chronic diseases and mental health issues.

Researchers Nazihah Mohamad Noor, Jarud Romadan Khalidi and Puteri Marjan Megat Muzafar - who authored the study - urged policymakers to take social inequalities into greater account when deciding on healthcare. - Mkini