The Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB) has published this year’s health indicators, reflecting a generalised improvement and an analysis of their historical evolution, where factors that stand out include an increase in life expectancy, a reduction in premature deaths thanks to early detection programmes, and an increase in the number of people with higher qualifications. The report also focuses on the new challenges for improving mental health problems and reducing loneliness.
The report “Health in Barcelona” is an essential tool for monitoring the city’s state of health. It helps identify new challenges to pursue through policies to improve health and quality of life among the population.
Improvement in health and socio-economic indicators
Life expectancy among the population has increased by 6.6 years for women and 7.7 years for men since 1984, although the figures are still behind pre-pandemic levels. Premature deaths have dropped notably thanks to primary prevention and early detection. Child mortality has also dropped constantly until levelling out.
Illnesses such as AIDS and tuberculosis have been significantly reduced. The mortality rate for HIV in the city is very low, meeting the goals set by UNAIDS. Similarly, there is a drop in cases of tuberculosis among men and women alike. In contrast, figures show that sexually transmitted infections are on the rise, with a much higher rate among men. The increase partly corresponds to a change in sexual habits and a drop in the use of preventive measures such as the condom.
The city’s population has changed over these forty years and is made up of more elderly people and of people with more diverse origins. The proportion of people with higher qualifications has increased, particularly among women, showing 37% of women and 33.7% of men with higher studies or university studies in 2023.
At the same time, in the sphere of work, unemployment among both sexes and all age groups grew in 2023. In the case of women, the number of people out of work reached the highest level since records began. Even so, women continue to work in more precarious conditions and with a heavier load of unpaid tasks.
Less smoking and more physical activity
Smoking has dropped in the last forty years, particularly among men. Among teenagers, tobacco consumption has also dropped, but in contrast to adults, tobacco use is higher among girls. Cannabis consumption among teenagers also dropped significantly from 2004 to 2021.
The figures also show an increase in alcohol consumption at levels posing a risk, more common among young people and accentuated after the Covid-19 pandemic. Deaths related to drug consumption have dropped drastically since the end of the 80s as a result of changes in consumption patterns and thanks to harm-reduction programmes.
Moderate or intense physical activity has increased since 2006 among both sexes and across all social classes but is still more common among social classes that are better off.
Environmental health and climate change
Air pollution has been reduced in the last forty years thanks to urban transformation measures, the reduction and improvement of polluting activities in the city and technological improvements in emissions from motor vehicles, plus a reduction in the use of private vehicles and more active mobility by bike or on foot.
Pollutants such as SO2, lead and CO have been cut significantly and do not represent a health problem in the city. However, despite having been cut in recent years, levels of NO2 and PM10 and PM2,5 particles are still above the thresholds set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The report also shows the effects of climate change with heatwaves associated with excessive death rates, particularly among the most vulnerable.
Mental health and loneliness as new challenges
In recent years, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic, mental health problems have increased, especially among women and youngsters. This has meant mental health has become a priority for health policies.
Another indicator to take into account is the prevalence of loneliness, increasing the risk of certain illnesses and mental health problems. Nearly 10% of people over the age of 15 state they often feel lonely, particularly women and young people, with an increase among the over-75s too. At the same time, figures show that the feeling of loneliness is more common among more disadvantaged social and economic groups of people.