Title

US Trends in Quality-Adjusted Life Expectancy From 1987 to 2008: Combining National Surveys to More Broadly Track the Health of the Nation

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Quantitative Health Sciences; Meyers Primary Care Institute

Publication Date

2013-09-12

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Clinical Epidemiology | Epidemiology | Health Services Research | Public Health

Abstract

Objectives. We used data from multiple national health surveys to systematically track the health of the US adult population.

Methods. We estimated trends in quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) from 1987 to 2008 by using national mortality data combined with data on symptoms and impairments from the National Medical Expenditure Survey (1987), National Health Interview Survey (1987, 1994-1995, 1996), Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (1992, 1996, 2000-2008), National Nursing Home Survey (1985, 1995, and 1999), and Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (1992, 1994-2008). We decomposed QALE into changes in life expectancy, impairments, symptoms, and smoking and body mass index.

Results. Years of QALE increased overall and for all demographic groups-men, women, Whites, and Blacks-despite being slowed by increases in obesity and a rising prevalence of some symptoms and impairments. Overall QALE gains were large: 2.4 years at age 25 years and 1.7 years at age 65 years.

Conclusions. Understanding and consistently tracking the drivers of QALE change is central to informed policymaking. Harmonizing data from multiple national surveys is an important step in building this infrastructure. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print September 12, 2013: e1-e10. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301250).

DOI of Published Version

10.2105/AJPH.2013.301250

Source

Susan T. Stewart, David M. Cutler, and Allison B. Rosen. (2013). US Trends in Quality-Adjusted Life Expectancy From 1987 to 2008: Combining National Surveys to More Broadly Track the Health of the Nation. American Journal of Public Health. e-View Ahead of Print. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301250. Link to article on publisher's site

Journal/Book/Conference Title

American journal of public health

PubMed ID

24028235

Related Resources

Link to article in PubMed

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