The average life expectancy of Shenzhen residents increased to 83.93 years in 2022, according to a white paper released yesterday by the Healthy Shenzhen Initiative Promotion Committee Office at the launch ceremony of a monthlong campaign that aims to promote health and fitness.
Shenzhen’s infant mortality rate was 1.18 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, while maternal mortality rate was 7.21 per 100,000 births, as per the white paper. Both figures were lower than the national average, which stood at 4.9 deaths per 1,000 live births and 15.7 per 100,000 births, respectively.
The prevalence of overweight (having a BMI between 25 and 30) adults in Shenzhen stood at 29.9% last year, while obesity (having a BMI over 30) was 7.5%, lower than the national level from the fifth national physique monitoring data.
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and cancers continued to be the leading causes of death among Shenzhen residents.
In 2022, the most common cancers for the whole Shenzhen population were thyroid, lung, colorectal and breast cancers. Lung cancer was most prevalent in men, while thyroid cancer was most common in women.
Shenzhen’s medical service expenses accounted for 13.52% of the local fiscal expenditure last year, according to the white paper. The city spent 67.55 billion yuan (US$9.36 billion) on health last year, up by 16.45 billion yuan over the previous year.
In 2022, another seven hospitals in Shenzhen were rated having the highest level on the mainland, bringing the total number of such hospitals in the city to 32. It also added two national key clinical specialties and was approved to build two State-level regional medical centers.
Official data showed that as of the end of 2022, Shenzhen had 5,201 healthcare institutions and 145,200 health workers. The number of community health institutions totaled 877 with an addition of 35 new ones.
Shenzhen has designated August as health month to raise awareness about improving physical fitness and sustaining a healthy lifestyle. This year’s health month features some 300 activities, according to the city’s health authority.