The researchers found that there are significant differences in the hopes for a long life between the Czech regions. For example, in the vicinity of Brno or in the foothills of the Orlické Mountains, people can expect to live up to 86 years, in Prague, by comparison, it is roughly 80 years.
“These are areas with good access to health care, prevention and employment. The quality of the environment is also better there on average,” Klára Hulíková from the Department of Demography and Geodemography of the Faculty of Science of Charles University listed the reasons.
At the same time, however, she reminded that the study only shows an average and it should be borne in mind that it does not directly reflect the health status of individual persons.
On the other side of the scale are the industrial areas of northwestern Bohemia. The data showed that people in these places have a significantly shorter life expectancy, by seven years. The situation is similar for the inhabitants of Moravian-Silesian Orlové or Central Bohemia’s Lysá nad Labem.
“In the areas most affected by premature mortality, more than a quarter of the deceased men did not reach the age of 65 and lose almost 15 years of potentially remaining life expectancy. An important factor is the structure of the causes of death. In the Ústí Region, diseases of the cardiovascular system dominate, while in the Moravian-Silesian and Olomouc Regions, external causes of death, i.e. accidents and injuries, play a significant role in premature mortality,” explained Hulíková.
Lost years
As part of the research, the researchers also calculated the so-called lost years. In other words, how many years of life will the inhabitants of the region lose if they do not have better conditions and health care.
It turned out that while a person from Nové Město nad Metují can lose ten and a half years unnecessarily, in Bílina or Kadan they can lose almost fifteen years.
The worst rated Bílina in the Ústí Region has a spa history. Even so, today it struggles with industrial pollution and low incomes. In addition, according to data from the Executor’s Chamber of the Czech Republic, every fifth resident of the city is facing foreclosure.
Of course, lifestyle and stress also have an influence on lost years. Alcohol is also a killer. In regions where a large number of alcoholics are treated, the average life expectancy is significantly shorter. Heavily addicted people live to be only 51 years old on average.
Even so, the Czech Republic is not doing badly in comparison to the rest of Europe, it holds a better average.
Spaniards have a long life, an average of 84 years. On the contrary, people in Bulgaria live the least – 75 years on average. For comparison, in the Czech Republic it is an average of 79 years.
