US health system good but improvements needed

A new study from the Rand Corporation has concluded that America's good healthcare system enables its older citizens to live longer than their UK peers. However, this does not mean that older US citizens are any healthier. They need to make lifestyle improvements to achieve better health.

Older US citizens between 55 and 64 suffer much more chronic disease than do their UK counterparts. However, they die around the same time in their lives. It is different for those aged 65 and older in the US. Despite the fact they tend to have poorer health they die later than over 65s in the UK.

Economist James Smith who co-authored the study told Reuters: "If you get sick at older ages, you will die sooner in England than in the United States. It appears that at least in terms of survival at older ages with chronic disease, the medical system in the United States may be better than the system in England."

Longevity expert Dr Walter M Bortz explained that in the US they carry out more hip operations than they do in the UK and that the increased mobility among older people tied in with longevity.

The US health system is better at treating sick people but that it is not good at preventing illness in the first place.

Summing up the situation Dr Bortz stated: "That's prolonging dying."

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