title: Gender differences in health expectancies across the disablement process among older Thais.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate health expectancies based on measures that more fully cover the stages in the disablement process for the older Thais and examine gender differences in these health expectancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Health expectancies by genders using Sullivan's method were computed from the fourth Thai National Health Examination Survey conducted in 2009. A total of 9,210 participants aged 60 years and older were included in the analysis. Health measures included chronic diseases; cognitive impairment; depression; disability in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL); and disability in activities of daily living (ADL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average number of years lived with and without morbidity and disability as measured by multiple dimensions of health varied and gender differences were not consistent across measures. At age 60, males could expect to live the most years on average free of depression (18.6 years) and ADL disability (18.6 years) and the least years free of chronic diseases (9.1 years). Females, on the contrary, could expect to live the most years free of ADL disability (21.7 years) and the least years free of IADL disability (8.1 years), and they consistently spent more years with all forms of morbidity and disability. Finally, and for both genders, years lived with cognitive impairment, depression and ADL disability were almost constant with increasing age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study adds knowledge of gender differences in healthy life expectancy in the older Thai population using a wider spectrum of health which provides useful information to diverse policy audiences.
authors: Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, NakhonPathom, Thailand.
authors: Benjawan
authors: B
authors: Apinonkul
authors: Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, NakhonPathom, Thailand.
authors: Kusol
authors: K
authors: Soonthorndhada
authors: Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, NakhonPathom, Thailand.
authors: Patama
authors: P
authors: Vapattanawong
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Wichai
authors: W
authors: Aekplakorn
authors: Newcastle University Institute for Ageing and Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors: Carol
authors: C
authors: Jagger
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology