title: Inequalities in health expectancies at older ages in the European Union: findings from the Survey of Health and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Life expectancy gaps between Eastern and Western Europe are well reported with even larger variations in healthy life years (HLY).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare European countries with respect to a wide range of health expectancies based on more specific measures that cover the disablement process in order to better understand previous inequalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Health expectancies at age 50 by gender and country using Sullivan's method were calculated from the Survey of Health and Retirement in Europe Wave 2, conducted in 2006 in 13 countries, including two from Eastern Europe (Poland, the Czech Republic). Health measures included co-morbidity, physical functional limitations (PFL), activity restriction, difficulty with instrumental and basic activities of daily living (ADL), and self-perceived health. Cluster analysis was performed to compare countries with respect to life expectancy at age 50 (LE50) and health expectancies at age 50 for men and women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2006 the gaps in LE50 between countries were 6.1 years for men and 4.1 years for women. Poland consistently had the lowest health expectancies, however measured, and Switzerland the greatest. Polish women aged 50 could expect 7.4 years fewer free of PFL, 6.2 years fewer HLY, 5.5 years less without ADL restriction and 9.5 years less in good self-perceived health than the main group of countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substantial inequalities between countries were evident on all health expectancies. However, these differed across the disablement process which could indicate environmental, technological, healthcare or other factors that may delay progression from disease to disability.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. carol.jagger@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jagger
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weston
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cambois
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Oyen
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nusselder
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doblhammer
authors.forename: Jitka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rychtarikova
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Robine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005062:European Union; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires