PR92262

LONDON, October 13, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

- Research shows number of years people are spending in ill health is

increasing, due to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, driven by

unhealthy lifestyles

- Experts call for focus on healthspan, the quality of life, alongside

lifespan, the quantity of life, citing significant economic and social benefits

- Pioneering algorithm by Vitality, in collaboration with RAND Europe, can for

the first time predict an individual's healthspan (the number of years lived in

good health) and future health risks

Vitality today reveals research results quantifying the widening gap between

lifespan (life expectancy) and healthspan (the number of years lived in good

health) globally, reflecting a diminishing quality of life in later years.

Alongside this research, Vitality and RAND Europe have developed a pioneering

algorithm that allows individuals, for the first time, to understand how their

lifestyle choices impact both their length and quality of life, enabling them

to take actions to maximise the number of years spent in good health in the

future.

The research and algorithm were launched at Vitality's global conference with

keynote speakers Professor Yuval Noah Harari and Discovery / Global Vitality

CEO, Adrian Gore, to debate solutions for improving the future health of

individuals and populations.

The research highlights an average 15% increase since 1990 in the number of

years that people will spend in ill health over their lifetimes, from 8.5 years

to 9.8 years, which equates to approximately 18% of the average lifespan. This

outcome follows health strategies that prioritise treatment over prevention,

and technologies that enable people to live longer with disease. Currently, the

world spends $8.5 trillion or 10% of GDP on healthcare delivery with only 5%

going towards prevention. Reducing the disease burden by just 10% through more

preventive policies and behaviour change could prevent up to 93 million healthy

years of life being lost globally each year.

The new algorithm, developed by Vitality in collaboration with RAND Europe,

will provide individuals with a personalised view of their lifespan and

healthspan, as well as bespoke recommendations for improving these measures,

delivered in a way that best resonates with them. This world-first public

calculator of individual healthspan - the Vitality Healthy Futures calculator -

will be available to the public on: https://vitality.international/ from 12

October 2021 for a limited time.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1658249/Vitality_International_Logo.jpg

SOURCE: Vitality International