Year: 2025 | Month: December | Volume: 15 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 1-17
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20251201
Trends in Gain in Life Expectancy at Birth Following the Elimination of Specific Diseases in India and Its Selected States (2003-2021)
Bal Kishan Gulati
Scientist E, Indian Council of Medical Research, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029, India
Corresponding Author: Dr. Bal Kishan Gulati
ABSTRACT
Background: Life table is an important demographic technique used in analysis of mortality and other demographic processes. Life expectancy, a statistical measure to portray average life span a person is expected to live at a given age under given age-specific mortality rates, is generated from life tables. Cause-deleted life table measures gain in life expectancy after elimination of a specific disease. Changes in life expectancy over time serve as an interesting public health indicator for medical, social and economic developments within populations. The present study estimates the gain in life expectancy and effect of ten leading causes of death on overall mortality experience of India and its selected states for the years 2003, 2009, 2015 and 2021 by using MCCD data.
Material and Methods: Based on data on causes of death for the years 2003, 2009, 2015 and 2021, abridged life tables, multiple decrement and cause eliminated life tables were carried out separately by sex and age groups for India and its selected states for life expectancy estimates. By eliminating certain causes of death, a more accurate life expectancy capable of predicting gender difference in life expectancy is obtained.
Results: The results show that in India and its selected states, circulatory diseases remain a primary target for improving life expectancy. Their increasing contribution to gain in life expectancy suggests either rising mortality from these diseases or slower progress in their control compared to other causes.
Conclusion: The study examined how each of the ten diseases influences the life expectancy of the Indian population. The greater the increase in life expectancy following the elimination of a specific cause of death, the larger the disease’s impact on overall longevity. These findings provide valuable evidence for the government to strengthen public health policies and strategies aimed at reducing preventable mortality and improving population health.
Key words: Life expectancy, gain, life table, mortality, elimination, circulatory system, MCCD