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More than 75 million octogenarians in the world
BY JOAQUIN ORAMAS
DURING this century, all the
Latin American countries will record an increase in
the percentage of their elderly, according to a
paper by the Pan-American Health Office (OPS) at the
International Meeting of Octogenarians in Havana.
It is equally important to
observe that this increase also opens the
possibility to extend life to post-60 and even
post-80 on the American continent. The OPS also
remarked that in certain countries, the elderly have
better health conditions and are less likely to be
disabled.
Fundamental aspects are helping
to extend life in the world, including the
development of science and public health, although
many people in the world lack medical attention.
Enrique Vega read out the lecture
on behalf of Doctor Marta Peláez, who could not
attend the OPS event due to a car accident. The
report establishes that in the last century life
expectancy increased, but the maximum expansion of
existence has not grown, but remained within the
range of 110 to122.
The report also points out that in 2002, the
percentage of elderly persons in Europe and Japan
was 20-24%.
Within 45 years, in most countries in the world,
including Cuba, over 30% of the population will be
comprised of people over 60.
This means that virtually one out
of three people living on the island will be around
60 years old within 45 years. By 2050, there will be
over 200 million people over 60 years of age in
Latin America, according to the report.
It also points out that life
expectancy increased by 20 years between 1950 and
the end of the last century. And it is expected to
grow by a total of 30 years by 2010. In Latin
America and especially in Cuba, over 80% of the
people born now will live to be over 60 years.
Moreover, 75% of them will live to be over 65 years
and close to 45% to 80-plus years. Doctor Vega
pointed out that currently 70% of Cubans live to be
more than 60.
In this regard, he explained
that, 379 million people in the world will be aged
80 or older in 2050, according to studies.
He also underlined that there are
currently over 75 million octogenarians on the
planet, and that by 2050 there will be almost 329
million.
It is worth remembering that the
Third World countries will experience a significant
increase in their population together with a lack of
economic development and the consequences of poverty
and inequality. The situation is the opposite in
developed countries, where the population increases
in relation to industrialization and a favorable
economy.
On the other hand, studies
undertaken in countries with a low mortality rate
such as Cuba, reveal that the mortality rate has
decreased by 1-2%,
thus increasing life expectancy to over 80 years.
In Japan, this increase almost reaches nine years.
It should not be overlooked that an increase in life
expectancy depends on the improvement of public
health, food, environment and culture among others.
In the case of Cuba, the health condition of the
elderly possesses the same standard as that of the
developed countries.
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