UK cost-of-living crisis set to increase early deaths: study

The UK’s inflation-fuelled cost-of-living
crisis is set to “cut lives short” and “significantly widen the wealth-health
gap”, according to a study published by open access journal BMJ Public Health
on Monday.

Modelling conducted for the study predicted that the proportion of people
“dying before their time” (under the age of 75) will rise by nearly 6.5
percent due to the sustained period of high prices.

The most deprived households will experience four times the number of extra
deaths than the wealthiest households, it forecast, with the poorest having
to spend a larger proportion of their income on energy, the cost of which has
soared.

The researchers studied the impact of inflation on death rates in Scotland in
2022-3, with and without mitigating measures such as government support to
help cut household bills.

The collected data was then used to model various potential future outcomes
on life expectancy and inequalities for the UK as a whole if different
mitigating policies were implemented.

Without any mitigation, the model found that inflation could increase deaths
by five percent in the least deprived areas and by 23 percent in the most
deprived — coming down to two percent and eight percent with mitigation,
with an overall rate of around 6.5 percent.

Overall life expectancy would also fall in each case, it added.

“Our analysis contributes to evidence that the economy matters for population
health,” said the researchers.

“The mortality impacts of inflation and real-terms income reduction are
likely to be large and negative, with marked inequalities in how these are
experienced.

“Implemented public policy responses are not sufficient to protect health and
prevent widening inequalities,” they added.

UK inflation unexpectedly slowed in August to 6.7 percent from a high of 11.1
percent, but remains the highest in the G7, fuelled by coronavirus lockdowns,
Brexit and the war in Ukraine. (BSS/AFP)