Differentials in Active Life Expectancy in the Older Population of the United States

Abstract

This study clarifies the process by which mortality and disability interact to determine differences in active life expectancy by age, sex, race, and education for the U.S. population 70 years of age and over. The analysis is performed using data from the Longitudinal Study of Aging and multistate life tables constructed using the results of hazard models. Women spend more years than men both active and inactive at every age; however, the proportion of life that is expected to be active is smaller for women. These differences are largely due to mortality differences favoring women. Persons with less than a high school education have shorter total and active life expectancies but similar expected lengths of inactive life compared to those with more than a high school education. There are no significant race differences in total life expectancy for race-education groups of the older population; but Blacks have lower expected active life than non-Blacks because of worse functioning.

Relationship between body mass index and different domains of disability in older persons: the 3C study

“…The stronger relationship between obesity and disability in women, previously reported by others, 17,25,22,37 could partly be explained by the higher percentage of body fat among women. 22 Another hypothesis could be the difference of disability-free life expectancy according to gender since women live longer with mild disability related to chronic illness; 38 men still alive at 65 y and over might constitute a selectively healthier group than women.…”

Predictors of 10-year mortality in a population of community-dwelling Brazilian elderly: the Bambuí cohort study of aging

“…Research on the issue has focused on different domains, such as socio demographic characteristics, lifestyle, functioning, mental health and physical health. Life expectancy at birth is higher for females than for males and this advantage persists in old age 3,4,5,6,7,8 . Studies have documented a protective effect of having a spouse on the risk of mortality 8,9,10 .…”

Active Life Expectancy and Functional Health Transition among Filipino Older People

“…Research on health expectancy underscores the significance of age, sex and socioeconomic status as predictors of health expectancy (Crimmins, Hayward and Saito, 1996;Liu et al 1995;Hayward and Heron, 1999;Robine and Romieu, 1998). Particularly, increased levels of disability with advancing age as well as clear gender differences have been reported.…”