Baby boomers live longer but are more likely to experience health problems in their later years than their predecessors at the same age, new research suggests.
People born in the late 1940s and 1950s are at a higher risk than their predecessors of having cancer, lung disease, heart problems, diabetes, and high cholesterol as they enter their 50s and 60s.
They found evidence of a “generational health drift,” where younger generations tend to have worse health than previous generations at the same age.
“With people living longer, our new study confirms that they are not necessarily spending their later years in good health,” said lead author of the study Laura Gimeno.
Health Issues
The study, published in the Journals of Gerontology, reported on increasing rates of chronic disease and disability trends among post-war generations.
Diagnoses of cancer, heart problems, and high cholesterol have increased the most in England and continental Europe, with baby boomers 1.5 times more likely to have these issues than earlier generations.
The risk was also higher of lung disease and high blood pressure for the respondents in Europe and the United States.
“For example, baby boomers on the continent were almost three times as likely to have chronic bronchitis or emphysema than their earlier born counterparts,” the study said.
More recent generations were also more likely to suffer from obesity in all regions, apart from Italy, Spain, and Greece.
Baby boomers in Scandinavia presented the greatest increases in BMI, with respondents in Denmark and Sweden 1.5 times as likely to be obese than earlier born peers.
The post-war generations in most regions were found to struggle to take care of themselves, including tasks such as bathing, eating, walking, and grocery shopping. UK baby boomers were 1.5 times more likely to find it difficult to perform three or more tasks, compared with earlier born peers.
Policymaking
Gimeno warned that the “worrying” health trends may result in younger generations spending more years with disability and in poor health. She added, however, that if these conditions are well managed, baby boomers could avoid a poor quality of life.The study also pointed to the implications of worsening health among post-war generations on policymaking.
“With up to a fifth of the population in high-income Western nations now over 65, increasing demands for health and social care will have huge implications on government spending,” said Gimeno.
With the baby-boom cohorts moving through retirement, the pressure on spending is growing, Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) figures suggest.
The OBR’s long-term projections suggest that annual health spending per person will remain below £2,000 until the age of 45, with costs beginning to rise as people enter their late 40s and peaking at £13,000 for those aged 85 and over.
According to Gimeno, in order to respond to the challenge of an ageing population, governments are seeking to extend working lives and encouraging older people into the workforce.
