The burden of selected diseases among older people in Denmark
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Journal | Journal of Aging and Health |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 4 |
Pages (from-to) | 491-506 |
Number of pages | 15 |
ISSN | 0898-2643 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2006 |
Externally published | Yes |
ID: 37851272