The trend in U.S. life expectancy since 1900 has been one of gradual improvement (1). Nevertheless,differences in life expectancy by race maintain persisted at least since official estimates were recorded. Measuring health disparities, including those in life expectancy, and is part of the Healthy People 2020 recommendations (2). In 1999,the inequity in life expectancy between the white and black populations was 5.9 years. The gap decreased to 3.6 years in 2013. Black and white population differences in causes of death are explored to determine how they contribute to the decrease in the gap in life expectancy from 1999 through 2013.
Source: cdc.gov