The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on life expectancy by the level of area deprivation in South Korea.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Comparative evidence suggests that the impact of COVID-19 on life expectancy has been relatively milder in South Korea. This study aims to examine whether the pandemic has universal or unequal impacts on life expectancy across 250 districts with varying levels of deprivation.

Methods

Using mortality data from 2012 to 2021 obtained from the Microdata Integrated Service of Statistics Korea, we calculated life expectancy at birth and age 65 for both sexes, by deprivation quintiles, before and during the pandemic. We summarized life expectancy gaps using the slope of the inequality index (SII) and further decomposed the gaps by the contribution of age and cause of death using Arriaga's method.

Results

Both men and women experienced consistent improvements in lif

SUBMITTER: Hong J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10427859 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature