Kavita Batra (Medicine) co-authored a study "Changing life expectancy in European countries 1990-2021: a sub-analysis of causes and risk factors from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021," recently published in the Lancet Public Health. The study found that countries like Norway, Iceland, Belgium, Denmark, and Sweden maintained life expectancy gains post-2011 through reduced mortality from cardiovascular diseases and cancers, supported by effective government policies. These countries were better prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, nations with slowed life expectancy improvements post-2011 faced larger declines in 2019-21.