The ministry cited Ministry of Health and Welfare statistics on the top 10 causes of death last year as the basis for its calculation. If malignant tumors could be removed, life expectancy could increase to 83.16 years, it said. Heart disease ranked second in the top 10 causes of death last year, with life expectancy rising by 1.37 years if it were eradicated, the interior ministry said. The COVID-19 pandemic ranked third and if the disease could be removed entirely, life expectancy could rise to 80.64 years, or an increase of 0.8 years. Men are more prone to die from malignant tumors, heart disease, COVID-19, pneumonia, cerebrovascular diseases, accidents and chronic lower respiratory diseases, data showed.
