Bollyky TJ, et al. – Researchers analyzed data from 170 countries to examine the connection between democracy and cause-specific mortality and to investigate the pathways linking democratic rule to health gains. They noted that HIV-free life expectancy at 15 years of age greatly improved from 1970 to 2015 (the study period)—on average, by 3% after 10 years—following a country’s transition to a democracy. Democracies were more likely vs autocracies to lead to health gains for causes of mortality—like cardiovascular diseases and transport injuries—that have not been heavily targeted by foreign aid and require healthcare delivery infrastructure when enforced by free and fair elections. The investigators concluded that international health agencies and donors should consider the implications of regime type in their efforts to exhaust health gains, especially with respect to aging populations and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.