Inflation and cost-of-living crisis: UK to experience more premature deaths
Business
Study says the current state of affairs will also significantly widen the wealth-health gap
LONDON (Agencies/Web Desk) – As the cost-of-living crisis triggered and sustained by a persistently high inflation is hitting the low income groups disproportionately around the world, even the developed nations are experiencing its fallout. The United Kingdom is an example where, according to a study, the proportion of people dying before their time (under the age of 75) – premature deaths – is set to rise by nearly 6.5 per cent.
This alarming revelation published in the British Medical Journal translates into 30 extra deaths per 100,000 of the population annually. But the those in the most deprived households experiencing a rate four times that of the least deprived.
It means the crisis is set to "cut lives short" and "significantly widen the wealth-health gap” as the poorest having to spend a larger proportion of their income on the expensive energy.
Without any mitigation, the model found that inflation could increase deaths by 5pc in the least deprived areas and by 23pc in the most deprived – coming down to 2pc and 8pc with mitigation, with an overall rate of around 6.5pc. 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 6.7pc from a high of 11.1pc, but remains the highest in the G7, fuelled by coronavirus lockdowns, Brexit and the war in Ukraine – a scenario not seen since 1970s.
The researchers modelled three scenarios: without any mitigating measures, (2) with the inclusion of the EPG; and (3) with the inclusion of the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) + Cost of Living Support payments. These were compared against 'business as usual' (average inflation from previous years) to estimate the health effects of each one.
Explaining the impacts of rising cost of living, the study says, "Our analysis contributes to evidence that the economy matters for population health. Evidence suggests that since 2012, economic conditions in the UK have caused a stalling of life expectancy and widened health inequalities, as austerity led to weaker social security and reduced income for the poorest households."
"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."
