Final answer:
Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL) is an indicator of premature mortality, representing the difference between an individual's age at death and the standard life expectancy. It underscores the impact of early deaths on society and highlights areas where healthcare improvements are needed. The COVID-19 pandemic has notably affected life expectancy trends, decreasing the average in some nations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL) is a measure of premature mortality. YPLL is calculated by subtracting the age at death from a predetermined endpoint age, typically the life expectancy for the population. If an individual dies at age 40 and life expectancy is 80 years, that individual's death contributes 40 years to the YPLL measure. This statistic is used to emphasize the social and economic impacts of early deaths, especially when these are preventable by improving health interventions.
Population health outcomes such as life expectancy can be affected by factors like nutrition, healthcare access, sanitation, and emergencies such as wars or pandemics. The calculation of YPLL brings awareness to health issues requiring intervention, drawing attention to disparities within and between populations. For example, the global increase in life expectancy may mask the fact that healthy life expectancy has not kept pace. Trends in life expectancy can reverse, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a notable decrease in average life expectancy in some countries.