Healthcare Outlook - Genes, Environment, and Lifestyle
Delivered September 17, 2019. Contributor: Estel M.
Goals
To provide additional 5-7 insights or statistics on factors impacting healthcare costs in the future such as life expectancy, genes, environment, lifestyle, chronic diseases, and health and the economy. Research will be used to populate slide presentation explaining the problems in the healthcare space as well as cost drivers.
Early Findings
ENVIRONMENT
- According to OECD's 2017 Health People, Healthy Planet report, emissions of air pollutants from increasing residential, retail and industrial buildings will affect health and healthcare costs.
- For example, emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia are expected to increase by 82% and 56% by 2060.
- Cities are also estimated to emit 60% of greenhouse gases, where 66% of the world's population are expected to live in by 2050.
- Yearly carbon dioxide emissions of private vehicles will also grow at an estimated 17% by 2050.
- The growth in air pollution is expected to drive healthcare costs as well in the future.
- Climate change is another environmental factor affecting future healthcare costs.
- The report states that extreme weather events such as tropical storms and floods will "have public health implications, such as foodborne and waterborne diseases, food insecurity, drownings, mental health impacts and destruction of medical facilities."
- Weather-related disasters are expected to affect two-thirds of Europeans by the year 2100 and claim an additional 150,000 deaths per year.
- Extreme temperatures are also expected to claim extra 13,000 deaths in the US by 2100.
- Populations who are vulnerable to health impacts from climate change include infants and children, elderly people, patients with chronic diseases, low-wage workers, pregnant women, and outdoor workers who are exposed to the elements.
LIFESTYLE
HEALTH AND THE ECONOMY
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