Impact of selected risk factors on expected lifetime without long-standing, limiting illness in Denmark.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the impacts of tobacco smoking, high alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and overweight on expected lifetime with and without long-standing, limiting illness.


METHODS
Life tables for each level of exposure to the risk factors were constructed, mainly on the basis of the Danish National Cohort Study. Expected lifetime without long-standing, limiting illness was estimated for exposed and unexposed persons by combining life tables and prevalence data from the Danish Health Interview Survey 2000 (14,503 participants aged 25+).


RESULTS
The life expectancy of 25-year-olds was 9-10 years shorter for heavy smokers than for those who never smoke, and all the lifetime lost would have been without long-standing, limiting illness. Similarly, all 5 years of expected lifetime lost by men with high alcohol consumption would have been without illness. The expected lifetime without long-standing, limiting illness was 8-10 years shorter among sedentary than physically active people. Obesity shortened lifetime without illness by 5 years for men and ten years for women.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study could be used in health policy-making, as the potential gains in public health due to interventions against these risk factors could be evaluated, when the prevalence of exposure to the risk factor is available.
Brønnum-Hansen
Henrik
H
National Institute of Public Health, Øster Farimagsgade 5 A, DK 1399 Copenhagen K, Denmark. hbh@niph.dk
Juel
Knud
K
Davidsen
Michael
M
Sørensen
Jan
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008017:Life Expectancy; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D009043:Motor Activity; D050177:Overweight; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology