State: Mass. Life Expectancy Rose To 80.7 In 2009

In 2009, Massachusetts' life expectancy reached an all-time high of 80.7 years, an increase of 2.2 years in a decade, according to a new report (PDF) from the Patrick administration.

The average national life expectancy in 2009 was 78.5, the administration reported, citing CDC data.

The state report also detailed over-the-decade declines in certain causes of death, such as cancer (1.8 percent annual decline), heart disease (3.7 percent) and stroke (5 percent).

In a release, state officials credited Massachusetts' universal health care law and preventative care efforts for the increase in life expectancy and the declines in causes of death.

“These results show that our efforts in public health and prevention are beginning to show a positive, real-world impact on Massachusetts residents,” Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach said in the release.

In related news, last month CommonHealth reported that Manhattan has passed Boston in life expectancy and then, in a follow-up post, explored why that might be the case.

Update at 2:10 p.m.: The Associated Press adds in its story on the report:

In 2009, there were 124 deaths from HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts, the lowest number since the peak of the epidemic in 1994.