Narrowing in on disparities in life expectancy across the U.S. with help of census-tract level data

A study published in PNAS is the first to look at life-expectancy data at the local, state, and county levels across the U.S. Findings reveal significant disparities at the micro level(census-tract) suggesting that analyzing life expectancy data at the typical state and county levels may not be local enough to get an accurate picture of life expectancy inequalities.

“There is a need for greater precision and targeting of local geographies in public policy discourse aimed at reducing health inequalities in the United States.”

Authors of study: Antonio Fernando Boing, Alexandra Crispim Boing, Jack Cordes, Rockli Kim, and S. V. Subramanian