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
Repository Citation
Stewart, Susan T.; Cutler, David M.; and Rosen, Allison B., "US Trends in Quality-Adjusted Life Expectancy From 1987 to 2008: Combining National Surveys to More Broadly Track the Health of the Nation" (2013). Quantitative Health Sciences Publications and Presentations. 1110.
https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/qhs_pp/1110
