Even before COVID-19, Missouri's life expectancy was in decline. While it is not the lowest in the nation, the state has consistently been trending worse for nearly four decades, according to a May 1 report from St. Louis Public Radio.
Right now, the average life expectancy in the state is 74.6 years — which is three years lower than it was one decade ago. Compounding factors continue to push not only Missouri's life expectancy down, but the national one as well.
While Missouri's declining life expectancy does follow national trends, it is specifically lower in the state than the national average and shows no signs of rebounding due to COVID-19 and a multitude of other factors.
Here's what is keeping it down:
- Missouri spends only $5.86 per person each year on public healthcare — $22 less than the national average and the lowest of any state in the country, according to the Missouri Foundation for Health.
- An increase in homicides in the state is one contributing factor, experts told St. Louis Public Radio.
- A rise in drug overdose deaths, which was the number one cause of death for Missouri residents aged 18 to 44 in 2020, according to the state's health department — has also been attributed as a cause.
- An aging population in which deaths are outpacing births is also a contributing factor, and a trend being observed nationally as well, the outlet reported.
- Increasing diagnoses of chronic conditions, particularly in younger age groups, is another factor contributing to the issue, St. Louis Public Radio reported.
COVID-19 added on top of the factors above, making outcomes worse, St. Louis Public Radio reported.