This is the 301st most frequent Japanese word.
比べ
"Comparison."
Here, '比べ' (kurabe) is used as part of the phrase '~に比べて' which means 'compared to ~', emphasizing the comparative relation.
私の車は彼の車に比べて速いです。
My car is faster compared to his car.
'比べ' is utilized here to draw a comparison between past records and the new achievement.
過去の記録と比べ、新記録が樹立されました。
Compared to past records, a new record has been set.
In this context, the phrase '以前と比べて' (compared to before) indicates a change or improvement in lifestyle.