title: Gender differences in life expectancy free of impairment at older ages.
abstract: This article uses data from the United Kingdom Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing study (MRC CFAS) to analyze morbidity associated with three areas of impairment. We use cognitive status, functional status, and physical illness to examine differences in the proportion of time that older women and men will spend with co-morbidity. We also analyze differences among various impairments, and investigate the relationship between missing data and sex. Women have a larger burden of impairment than men, and, by including cognitive impairment together with functional impairment, a very large impairment burden is highlighted at all ages. Policy implications of the findings from the perspective of older women in the United Kingdom are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Leicester, England.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jagger
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology