TY - JOUR

T1 - The burden of selected diseases among older people in Denmark

AU - Brønnum-Hansen, Henrik

AU - Juel, Knud

AU - Davidsen, Michael

PY - 2006/8/1

Y1 - 2006/8/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: The study evaluated the health impact of specific diseases. METHOD: Life tables and health survey data are combined to estimate expected lifetime with and without long-standing illness. We compared estimates based on observed rates of mortality and prevalence of illness with those based on hypothetical rates from which a specific disease has been eliminated. RESULTS: Life expectancy would increase by 4.0 years for 65-year-olds if circulatory diseases are eliminated, and the proportion of expected lifetime without long-standing, limiting illness would increase from 59.2% to 66.5% for men and from 52.2% to 55.6% for women. Elimination of musculoskeletal diseases would not change life expectancy but would increase the proportion of expected lifetime without long-standing illness. CONCLUSIONS: Because of comorbidity, more years of illness are to be expected if lethal diseases are to be eliminated. Elimination of nonfatal diseases would mainly transfer years with long-standing illness to years without illness.

AB - OBJECTIVE: The study evaluated the health impact of specific diseases. METHOD: Life tables and health survey data are combined to estimate expected lifetime with and without long-standing illness. We compared estimates based on observed rates of mortality and prevalence of illness with those based on hypothetical rates from which a specific disease has been eliminated. RESULTS: Life expectancy would increase by 4.0 years for 65-year-olds if circulatory diseases are eliminated, and the proportion of expected lifetime without long-standing, limiting illness would increase from 59.2% to 66.5% for men and from 52.2% to 55.6% for women. Elimination of musculoskeletal diseases would not change life expectancy but would increase the proportion of expected lifetime without long-standing illness. CONCLUSIONS: Because of comorbidity, more years of illness are to be expected if lethal diseases are to be eliminated. Elimination of nonfatal diseases would mainly transfer years with long-standing illness to years without illness.

U2 - 10.1177/0898264305286074

DO - 10.1177/0898264305286074

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 16835386

VL - 18

SP - 491

EP - 506

JO - Journal of Aging and Health

JF - Journal of Aging and Health

SN - 0898-2643

IS - 4

ER -