South Bay Residents Richer but Not Longer Lived, Study Finds

A report released by the L.A. County Department of Public Health, titled "Life Expectancy in Los Angeles County: How long do we live and why?" suggests a strong correlation between economic status and living longer. But the South Bay cities' high economic rankings didn't translate to much longer average life expectancies compared with other communities.

For example, in Hermosa Beach, which was ranked as the most affluent city in the county, residents have only a few months' advantage over the rest of the region. Life expectancy in Hermosa Beach is 80.4 years, while the county average is 80.3 years.

Manhattan Beach fared best of the South Bay cities, followed by Torrance and El Segundo. Residents of Manhattan Beach, the second most affluent city in L.A. County, live an average of 2.9 years longer than the county average.

Hermosa Beach provided the largest disparity between affluence and life expectancy. While ranking in the top percentile for economic status, the city placed 61st out of 103 for life expectancy, landing in the third quartile. Redondo Beach fared slightly better in 50th place, with El Segundo following close behind in 49th place. Both cities ranked in the second quartile.

Hawthorne and Lawndale, the lowest ranked cities in the South Bay for economic status, fell below the county's average for life expectancy. According to the report, the Los Angeles cities with the longest life expectancies are La Canada Flintridge (87.8 years), Walnut (86.6 years) and Beverly Hills (85.6 years).

The report analyzed data collected from 1991 to 2006, which showed that average life expectancy in the county overall had risen steadily, from 75.8 years in 1991 to 80.3 years in 2006. However, a visible gap still exists among some of L.A County's geographic, economic and ethnic communities. Most Angelenos live to about 80 years old. In the South Bay, people live on average 0.6 years longer.

For comparison, citizens of Westmont, a community less than 13 miles from Manhattan Beach, face the shortest average life expectancy rate in the county—72.4 years, 7.9 years less than the countywide average. 

"Average life expectancy is one of the most fundamental measures of the health of a population and community," Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said in the report. "The dramatic variation across the county begs the basic question: Why do such significant disparities exist?"

Death is earlier "among those who are poor, who have less education, and who have less social support and fewer economic resources," according to the report. Ethnicity also plays a role in disparities in life expectancy across L.A. County.

The report describes a "striking 17.5 year difference" in life expectancy between those at the top of the ranking—Asian women—and those at the bottom—African American males.

To provide context for the gap in life expectancy between ethnic groups, the Department of Public Health included in its report the top-10 causes of death. The statistics show that not only does ethnicity influence when we die, but also how.

White men and women are more likely than those in other ethnic groups to commit suicide. Deaths from HIV are highest among black men and women. But it's not health issues that are the most significant factor in life expectancy disparity among ethnic groups. It's crime, the report said.

Although coronary heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death among white and Asian men and women in L.A. County, for black and Hispanic males it's  homicide.

The homicide rate for black males results in a significant gap in life expectancy between blacks and all other ethnic groups, according to the report.

Eliminating homicide from Los Angeles County would "result in a gain of 14 times more life-years at birth for black males relative to white males," the report said. 

There are a number of ways to increase the county's life expectancy rates, according to the report, namely targeting preventable deaths and reducing the lifestyle and environmental inequalities that cause them. Obesity, smoking, alcohol and drugs are listed but so is the need for supportive communities and civic engagement.

"Much of what determines our quality of life and how long we live is rooted in the social and cultural fabrics of our communities," the report stated. "Being able to obtain a good education, be fully employed, feed our families, and have a safe place to live are fundamental to our health."