According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) analysis, people from mixed and white ethnic groups had lower life expectancy than those of Black and Asian populations in England and Wales between 2011-2014.This study compared 2011 death registration and census data to calculate life expectancy and causes of death for each ethnic group.Black African women lived an average of 88 years while Black African women lived 83.1 years. The life expectancy of white and mixed-ethnic men was 79.7 years and 79.3 respectively. For Black African women, it was 84.5.Senior fellow at Kings Fund, Dr Veena Raleigh said that the ONS analysis was solid and in line with prior research. She said that commentators and academics often claim ethnic minorities have the poorest health outcomes. However, this is not always supported by the evidence.The so-called healthy migration effect is one of the key reasons for higher life expectancies among ethnic minorities. She said that there is evidence that migrants are healthier and have lower levels of alcohol, smoking, and other risk factors. However, this effect fades over time because the next generation tends to adopt similar lifestyles as natives.However, there are certain diseases that tend to be more prevalent in certain groups. The rate of heart disease-related death in Asians is much higher than in those of Black or Asian descent. However, the rates of cancer in whites are significantly lower than in Asians.Raleigh stated that although there are differences between ethnicities in terms of health, we must be precise about what data shows and target the factors that affect health in particular groups. This is a vast array of problems and you will need to magnify the details to see what they are and why they're occurring and how they can be fixed.Dr Raghib Ali is a senior clinical researcher associate at the University of Cambridge. He said that the data showed that Covid had a disproportionate effect on minority ethnicities. This meant that Covid had reversed their mortality advantage, rather than making them worse off.Raleigh stated that deprivation is the main driver of worse outcomes in health, as exemplified through Covid. Raleigh also noted that millions of people of color are also negatively affected by health inequalities.She said that this is about reducing health disparities in general and within specific groups. This includes addressing health needs of ethnic minorities where they are indicated. It also addresses the health needs for poor white people. That is how we can get to a better national place, I believe.
