How Policy Failures Contributed Arizona’s Decline in Life Expectancy in 2020 & 2021

Recent reports reveal a concerning trend: life expectancy in Arizona plummeted by nearly three years from 2019 to 2021, one of the steepest declines in the nation.

New: Life expectancy for Arizonans dropped in 2-year span, data shows (azcentral.com)

This drop is closely linked to the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where Arizona’s leadership under former Governor Doug Ducey and ADHS Director Cara Christ made critical missteps that contributed to this devastating outcome.

Arizona’s life expectancy decline is not just a statistical anomaly; it’s a reflection of policy failures. According to The Lancet, Arizona had the highest per capita standardized COVID-19 death rate in the U.S. from January 2020 to July 2022. This alarming statistic underscores the consequences of a state leadership that prioritized economic interests over public health.

Assessing COVID-19 pandemic policies and behaviours and their economic and educational trade-offs across US states from Jan 1, 2020, to July 31, 2022: an observational analysis – The Lancet

Ducey and Christ’s reluctance to enforce mask mandates, social distancing, and other preventative measures during critical periods of the pandemic undoubtedly played a significant role in Arizona’s tragic mortality rate.

Their decision to forbid other jurisdictions and businesses from requiring proof of vaccine as a condition of admission to public venues also contributed to Arizona’s poor performance.

An AZPHA data brief highlighted how COVID-19 became the leading cause of death in Arizona during the pandemic, surpassing heart disease and cancer.

AzPHA Data Brief – Arizona: The Only State in the US Where COVID-19 was the Leading Cause of Death during the Pandemic

That report further illuminated the impact of inadequate state-level public health interventions. The state’s approach not only worsened the COVID-19 crisis but also overshadowed ongoing public health challenges, leading to broader declines in life expectancy.

Arizona’s performance starkly contrasts with states that implemented more aggressive public health measures, where life expectancy has been better preserved.

The decisions made by Ducey and Christ during the pandemic have left a lasting, detrimental impact on the state’s health outcomes, a legacy that continues to affect Arizonans today.

Moving forward, it’s critical that Arizona’s policymakers learn from these mistakes, prioritize public health, and hold executive branch appointees accountable.