CAUSES OF DEATH CONTRIBUTING TO CHANGES IN LIFE EXPECTANCY IN NEW-YORK-CITY BETWEEN 1983 AND 1992

Recent changes in life expectancy among race and sex groups in New Yor k City were evaluated by analyzing the relative effects of different c auses of death in 1983 and 1992, a period in which life expectancy at birth declined by 1.1 years among white males, remained unchanged amon g black males, and increased 1.2 years among white and black females. Heart disease was found to be the leading cause of death making positi ve contributions to changes in life expectancy regardless of race or s ex, and HIV/AIDS was the leading negative contributor. Overall, deaths from infectious diseases and external causes are becoming more import ant compared to degenerative conditions in explaining trends in life e xpectancy in New York City. Past improvements in survival due to reduc tions in infant deaths are being reversed due to an increase in deaths from preventable causes such as violence and AIDS. Future gains in lo ngevity may require a greater emphasis on policies and programs emphas izing conflict resolution and HIV prevention.