title: Disability-free life expectancy by health region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article presents a profile of variations in disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) by health region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mortality data for 1995 through 1997 are from the Canadian Vital Statistics Database. Estimates of disability (major activity limitations) and sociodemographic characteristics are based on data from the 1996 Census. Supplementary information was provided by the Demography and Geography divisions at Statistics Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  DFLE was calculated using a modified version of Sullivan's method. Linear regression using 4 factors representing socio-demographic profiles was used to explain the variation of DFLE by health region. These 4 synthetic variables were determined using principal component analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 1996, DFLE for both sexes was estimated to be 68.6 years. Estimates by health region varied considerably. Socio-economic status explains a high proportion of the variation of DFLE by health region.
authors.affiliation: Département des sciences économiques, l'Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3P8. mayer.francine@uqam.ca
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Berthelot
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilkins
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy / Q000639:trends*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population