Report Finds Racial, Ethnic Gaps in Life Expectancy

White men in California live an average of seven years longer than black men, and white women in the state live an average of five years longer than black women, according to a study released on Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California, the Los Angeles Times reports (Engel, Los Angeles Times, 8/30).

For the study, titled "Death in the Golden State," co-authors Helen Lee and Shannon McConville, both of the institute, examined 694,317 death certificates issued in California between 2000 and 2002 and compared the causes of death among the largest racial and ethnic groups in the state.

The study found that Hispanic men in California lived an average of two years longer than white men and that Hispanic women in the state lived an average of three years longer than white women. In addition, the study found that Asian men and women in California lived an average of five years longer than white men and women.

The study also found that:

• Asian men in California lived to an average age of 80, and Asian women lived to an average age of 85, with common causes of death that included heart disease, cancer, strokes and aneurysms;
• Hispanic men in California lived to an average age of 77, and Hispanic women lived to an average age of 83, with common causes of death that included heart disease, cancer and diabetes;
• White men in California lived to an average age of 75, and white women lived to an average age of 80, with common causes of death that included heart disease and cancer; and
• Black men in California lived to an average age of 68, and black women lived to an average age of 75, with common causes of death that included heart disease and cancer.