A new study from the American Medical Association found that Americans are sicker for longer than any other country.
People in the U.S. live with diseases for an average of 12.4 years, with mental and substance-use disorders and musculoskeletal diseases adding up the most years for those living with illnesses, the study explained.
The number of years Americans spend sick increased from 10.9 years in 2000 to 12.4 years in 2024. Women spend on average 2.6 more years sick than men, clocking in at 13.7 years this year. The figure was 12.2 years in 2000.
Around the world, the study found that people are sick for 9.6 years in average, up from 8.5 years in 2000. Australia trails behind the U.S. with 12.1 years spent sick. They are followed by New Zealanders with 11.8 years, while in the UK and Northern Ireland the figure stands at 11.3 years.
Countries with the least amount of time spent sick are Lesotho with 6.5 years, Central African Republic at 6.7 years, and Somalia and Kiribati at 6.8 years.
“These results underscore that around the world, while people live longer, they live a greater number of years burdened by disease,” Armin Garmany and Andre Terzic, the study’s authors concluded.
Originally published by Latin Times
