Life expectancy with health conditions

How specific diagnosed conditions are associated with life expectancy, based on published research, with the factors that change each outlook. These are population associations, not predictions.

Important. The figures below describe statistical associations across populations, drawn from published research. They are not a prediction about any individual. Outcomes vary widely between people in both directions, and many factors are modifiable. This is not medical advice. For personal guidance, speak to a GP.

Metabolic

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes affects how the body regulates blood sugar and is strongly linked to cardiovascular disease, which is the main route by which it influences life expectancy.

Autoimmune

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body stops producing insulin. It usually begins earlier in life and requires lifelong insulin management.

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition affecting the nervous system. Its course varies widely between individuals.

Lupus (SLE)

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune condition that can affect multiple organs. Outlook has improved markedly with modern treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition causing joint inflammation, with effects that can extend to the cardiovascular system.

Crohn’s / ulcerative colitis

Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, causes chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.

Other autoimmune conditions

Autoimmune conditions vary enormously in how they affect life expectancy, from negligible for well-controlled conditions such as treated thyroid disease to significant for systemic conditions.

Respiratory

COPD (chronic lung disease)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease covers conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis that progressively limit airflow. It is most often caused by smoking.

Cardiovascular

Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease, including angina and the after-effects of a heart attack, is caused by narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart.

Heart failure

Heart failure means the heart cannot pump blood as effectively as it should. It is a serious condition but one where treatment has advanced significantly.

Stroke (previous)

A stroke happens when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted. Having had one raises the risk of further strokes and other cardiovascular events.

Atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm that raises the risk of stroke and is associated with other cardiovascular conditions.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure is a major but highly modifiable risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.

High cholesterol

Raised cholesterol contributes to the narrowing of arteries and is a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor.

Neurological

Dementia / Alzheimer’s

Dementia describes a group of conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, that affect memory, thinking, and the ability to carry out daily activities.

Mental health

Schizophrenia / bipolar disorder

Severe mental illness, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, is associated with a significant gap in life expectancy, most of which comes from physical health conditions rather than the illness itself.

Severe / long-term depression

Severe or long-term depression is associated with elevated mortality risk, through both physical health pathways and other causes.

Renal

Chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease is a long-term reduction in kidney function. It is closely linked to cardiovascular risk, which is the main route by which it affects life expectancy.

Hepatic

Liver disease

Liver disease covers a range of conditions, from fatty liver to cirrhosis, with widely differing outlooks depending on cause and stage.

Oncology

Cancer (current or recent)

Cancer is not a single condition, and its effect on life expectancy ranges from negligible for highly curable cancers to severe for advanced disease. General figures are not meaningful here.

Cancer (in remission)

Being in remission, particularly several years after treatment, generally carries a much better outlook than active disease, though it varies by cancer type.

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