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Do doctors have a longer life expectancy than other people?
鈥� Doctors are as interested in their own mortality as any other group of people, and have investigated this very subject.
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The authors of a 1997 looked at the cause of death listed in UK Department of Health records for more than 20,000 hospital consultants, who died between 1962 and 1992. Overall, these doctors had rates of lung cancer, heart disease and diabetes that were less than half those for the general population. The study also found distinct statistical variations depending on the consultant鈥檚 area of specialisation. For instance, suicide was more common among anaesthetists than other doctors.
While direct access to healthcare may have played a part in doctors鈥� relatively low rates of disease, we are obviously aware of the risks of smoking and an unhealthy lifestyle and, more importantly, have acted on them far more than other people. Would that we could persuade everyone else.
Dr John Davies, Lancaster, UK
鈥� According to an American study covering the period from 1995 to 1999, doctors do indeed live longer than the average for their corresponding national population, but whether this is because of their knowledge of medicine and proximity to medical services is another matter. After all, it is well known that socio-economic status and educational attainment have a big impact on health and hence life expectancy. A study of the UK population showed that middle-class professionals such as doctors and accountants outlive builders and cleaners by eight years on average. Another American study suggests that doctors live longer than other professionals, but there is no clear evidence yet as to why this should be the case.
鈥淒octors and other middle-class professionals outlive builders and cleaners by eight years on average鈥�
Of course, we doctors do use our medical knowledge to try to understand any issues affecting our own bodies and minds, and we may then try to treat ourselves or seek help from our colleagues. But we are not, in fact, good at seeking help, being patients or taking time off work when we are sick. Recent statistics on the UK鈥檚 National Health Service workforce show that doctors are much less likely than other healthcare professionals to be off work, but don鈥檛 assume that is because we are less likely to be sick. As a doctor who has turned up for work despite feeling poorly, I know what I鈥檓 talking about.
Dr Joanna Jastrzebska, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, UK