A CHARITY has expressed concern after new figures revealed life expectancy in Renfrewshire has decreased.

Latest data released by National Records of Scotland (NRS) shows that, on average, men in the local area can expect to live to 75.6 years, while the figure for women is 80.1.

In both cases, this is below the Scottish average, which stands at 76.5 and 80.7 respectively.

The figures, which cover last year, also confirm a drop in average life expectancy for men and women in Renfrewshire since 2019.

Out of 32 council areas across Scotland, only seven had a lower life expectancy for men than Renfrewshire last year, while there were 10 areas worse off when it came to longevity for women.

The same report shows that life expectancy for females in neighbouring East Renfrewshire was the highest in Scotland, at 84 years.

Shetland women are living the second longest, with East Dunbartonshire in third place.

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Meanwhile, men in East Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire had the joint highest life expectancy, at 79.9.

Life expectancy in Glasgow was lower than anywhere else in Scotland, at 72.9 for men and 76.5 for women.

The data also shows that male and female life expectancy across Scotland dropped from 77.1 and 81.1 respectively in the period between 2017 and 2019 to 76.5 and 80.7 in 2020 to 2022.

Age Scotland said the figures give “cause for concern.”

Adam Stachura, the charity’s head of policy and communications, added: “The Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on life expectancy, with older people most at risk, but these figures were already stalling in the years leading up to the pandemic.

“Factors linked to poverty may contribute to a further reduction in life expectancy in the future, such as the number of people struggling to heat their homes to a comfortable level and the increasing cost of essentials such as food.

“Given the devastating link between income levels and overall life expectancy and the difficulty many people experience when accessing healthcare and social care, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see how this trend can be reversed without first addressing these underlying issues.

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“With an ageing population and our latest research revealing a disheartening downturn in older people feeling valued by society, there is a long way to go to make Scotland the best place to grow older.

“Increasing both life expectancy and healthy life expectancy is a key part of this.”

Experts at NRS said the latest figures are provisional and will be updated next year, when new data from last year’s census is available.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “It remains an unwelcome reality that communities experience health, quality of life and even life expectancy differently across society and the Scottish Government continues to take action to reduce such inequalities in health.

“We work closely with Public Health Scotland and National Records of Scotland to analyse a broad range of data and better understand causes of death and any implications for public health.

“We are targeting our actions to areas and communities most in need in order to ensure equity in our approach.

“Meanwhile, as winter approaches, we encourage all those who are eligible for the flu and Covid vaccinations to take up their appointment offers.

“Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourselves, your loved ones and the NHS from both viruses.”