(www.neomundo.com.ar/SINC) since 1986, Japanese citizens have the highest life expectancy: babies born today under the premise that live an average of 86 years. The first study on this topic, published this week in the Lancet, explains the reasons for this success and the pressures resulting from population ageing rapidly.
Magazine published a special dossier on 50 years of health in Japan. The first study, led by Kenji Shibuya, researcher at the University of Tokyo (Japan), shows the rapid increase in life expectancy during the decades of 1950 and 1960, as the first infectious diseases declined and fell mortality from myocardial.
The introduction of universal health coverage in 1961 made it possible to equal opportunities in the promotion of health. Accomplishments came to the entire population, all regions and socio-economic groups.
However, this trend downward in health socio-economic inequality has been less obvious from the early 1990s with the gradual increase of the discrepancy in wages.
The authors emphasize on “how the experience of the country can constitute an important resource for the global health community that transcends geographical, social, cultural and political borders that help you to understand and improve the health of the population around the world”.
Go to the doctor
Today the Japanese go to the doctor an average of 13.4 times a year, more than double that of the residents of United Kingdom (5 times). In addition, some companies finance complete medical check-ups to prevent the development of chronic diseases and detecting cancer at stages more early.
“This series on Japan emphasizes its unique ability to address the different and changing challenges of the health of the population in 50 years to achieve the longevity of its inhabitants”, explain the authors. “We hope to serve as a guide to help other countries”.
New developments
Future progress in Japanese longevity depends on the prevention of the risk factors most important in chronic diseases, such as the consumption of tobacco, obesity and blood pressure not controlled.
Must also monitor the treatment of infection with Helicobacter pylori (which has a strong presence in several Asian countries).
“With success during the transition of health after the second world war, Japan needs to deal with major challenges of a rapidly aging population causes that can not be blamed health technology and the effects of a growing disparity of social to sustain the improvement of the health of the population,” conclude the authors.
Are responsible for their elderly
As the Japanese elderly population continues to grow, your care needs are increasing in the same way. In the year 2000, Japan started on a mandatory basis (LCTI) long term care insurance to help the elderly lead more independent lives and ease the burden on family caregivers.
, 23% Of the Japanese population currently 65 years or older. However, by the year 2050 the population with this age will be 40% of the total. More than half of the elders of the nation (57%) do not report financial problems, much better than the USA (36%) and France (18%).
85% Of the elderly Japanese does not have any impediment to a daily, compared to 65 per cent in the EE UU.
The authors concluded that the first decade of operation of the LCTI “has proven to be effective and manageable” and claim that “the Japanese approach, with services designed specifically for older people, is the direct solution to the difficulty of Governments to deal with the growing number of elderly people”.
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