Respiratory diseases and the gender gap in life expectancy: evidence from oil-producing municipalities in the Campos Basin, Brazil

Abstract

Respiratory diseases rank among the leading causes of mortality in Brazil and significantly affect life expectancy. However, few studies have examined their specific impact on longevity and gender disparities, particularly in regions marked by socioeconomic inequalities, such as the oil-producing municipalities of the Campos Basin in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This article addresses this gap by estimating the impact of mortality from respiratory diseases on life expectancy at birth between 2000 and 2019. Using data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) and the Mortality Information System, we constructed multiple-decrement life tables to simulate 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% reductions in deaths from these diseases. The results show that potential gains in life expectancy range from 0.5 to 3.2 years for women and from 0.4 to 2.3 years for men. The study analyzes these findings in light of the structure of causes of death, gender-specific mortality patterns, and the epidemiological transition. It highlights how eliminating specific causes can, counterintuitively, widen the gender gap in longevity. This reflection underscores the importance of interpreting life expectancy simulations in the context of residual mortality structures and competing risks, thus avoiding simplistic conclusions about the effects of health interventions.

Keywords:
Life expectancy; Respiratory diseases; Mortality differentials; Demography; Life tables