Iowa life-expectancy ranking falls

Falling life-expectancy rankings for both Iowa and the U.S. are concerning, but not surprising, for tri-state health leaders. A recently released report from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington found Iowa dropped from having the fourth-highest life expectancy in the nation in 1990 to a projected 17th-highest in 2024, at 79.7 years. The state is anticipated to drop to 23rd in 2050, per the report. The report cites drug use disorders and high body mass index, blood sugar and blood pressure as the leading reasons for Iowa’s life-expectancy metrics.