Jousting with the Lancet: Pajamas Media Interviews Professor Gilbert Burnham
Does that rate seem plausible, given Hungary’s superior infrastructure and almost 50 continous years of peace? Is it possible that both the pre- and post-war mortality rates are too low? Why not?
Burnham: There are many old people in Hungary , 40% are over age 55 vs. 9.3% in Iraq over 55. That’s the difference.
That is a non sequitor and completely unresponsive.
Sure there are more people over 55 in Hungary than Iraq. And the reason Hungary has a higher percentage of the population over 55 than Iraq, is, of course, because of Hungary’s superior health system.
But that is completely irrelevant to the question being asked.
Why? Because the question is asking, in part, in essence, about remaining life expectancy.
If the life expectancy of a Hungarian at age 80 is 5 years, and the life expectancy of an Iraqi at age 50 is 5 years, what does it matter what percentage of a population is over 55? The Hungarian at age 80 and Iraqi at age 50 are equivalently old – they each have on average 5 years left.
