Gender differences in healthy life years within the EU: an exploration of the “health–survival” paradox

Abstract

ObjectivesTo evaluated the female–male health–survival paradox by estimating the contribution of women’s mortality advantage versus women’s disability disadvantage.MethodsDisability prevalence was measured from the 2006 Survey on Income and Living Conditions in 25 European countries. Disability prevalence was applied to life tables to estimate healthy life years (HLY) at age 15. Gender differences in HLY were split into two parts: that due to gender inequality in mortality and that due to gender inequality in disability. The relationship between women’s mortality advantage or disability disadvantage and the level of population health between countries was analysed using random-effects meta-regression.ResultsWomen’s mortality advantage contributes to more HLY in women; women’s higher prevalence of disability reduces the difference in HLY. In populations with high life expectancy women’s advantage in HLY was small or even a men’s advantage was found. In populations with lower life expectancy, the hardship among men is already evident at young ages.ConclusionsThe results suggest that the health–survival paradox is a function of the level of population health, dependent on modifiable factors.

Representation of Vulnerability and the Elderly. A Total Survey Error Perspective on the VLV Survey

“…One is mechanical, since the number of proxies is lower on the male side (16.5 %, against 21.3 % for women). This confirms the well-known healthgender paradox, according to which women live longer than men but age with worse health (see Van Oyen et al 2013). Another explanation has more of a psychosocial nature, since experience in the field showed that wives often blocked phone calls, feeling the need to protect their husband (who were generally older than they were) from aggressive phone canvassing or suspected risks of invasion of privacy.…”

Sex Differences in Health and Survival

“…Although women live longer with activity limitations at ages 15 and 50, the gender gap in healthy life expectancy is smaller than the gender gap in life expectancy in most EU countries (Van Oyen et al 2010;Van Oyen et al 2012). These findings suggest that women may more likely to survive despite having disabilities and chronic conditions than men.…”

Differences by union status in health and mortality at older ages: Results for 16 European countries

“…Several topics dominate contemporary research. In addition to gender differences in healthy and unhealthy length of life (Nusselder et al 2010;Van Oyen et al 2013;Crimmins, Kim, and Solé-Auró 2010;Luy and Minagawa 2014), particular attention is attributed to the 'male-female survival paradox': the observation that women live longer but their life without disabilities is shorter (Oksuzyan et al 2009). Another branch of research is directed towards country-level comparisons: Salomon et al (2012) report findings on 187 countries; Majer et al (2011), Jagger et al (2008, 2011), and Minagawa (2013 consider diverse groups of European countries.…”