This chapter describes the health status of EU citizens, including trends in life expectancy, main causes of death, the occurrence of communicable and chronic diseases, and mental health issues. The COVID‑19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented reductions in life expectancy in many EU countries in 2020 and 2021, erasing the gains over the previous decade in several countries. Looking more broadly at all causes of death, the main causes of death across EU countries remain cardiovascular diseases, which accounted for over one‑third of all deaths in 2019, and cancers, which accounted for over one‑fourth of all deaths. While the pandemic is not over yet, EU countries must continue to prepare to face the “epidemic” of chronic diseases. Over 30% of people aged 65 and over report having at least two chronic conditions on average across EU countries, requiring in many cases appropriate care co‑ordination and management to avoid complications. Furthermore, over 25% of people over aged 65 report at least one limitation in activities of daily living that may require some long-term care assistance. The mental health of older people but also of younger adults has deteriorated during the pandemic, increasing the demand on mental health care services as well.
Health at a Glance: Europe 2022
State of Health in the EU Cycle
Health at a Glance: Europe
