Regional variations in and correlates of disability-free life expectancy among older adults in China

This study used 2006 mortality data extrapolated from the 1990 and 2000 Census and disability data from a national disability survey conducted in 2006. Disability was performance based and was diagnosed by trained physicians. DFLE was calculated by region using the Sullivan method. Multiple linear regression models by gender were conducted to explore correlates of DFLE.DFLE at age 60 varied widely by region, from 11.2 to 20.8 years in 2006. Per capita gross domestic product, proportion of urban residents, and access to health care were the primary factors associated with geographical variations in DFLE.The pattern of differences in DFLE by region mirrors the pattern of regional economic development in China. Countermeasures to decrease regional differences in DFLE include accelerating regional economic development and improving health care distribution.China, the world's most populous and dynamic society, has made economic growth a priority since the second social revolution in 1978. The average 10% economic growth a year for the past three decades has produced dramatic improvements in the living standards of Chinese citizens. Meanwhile, life expectancy at birth has increased markedly from 65.3 years in 1975-1980 to 73 years in 2005-2010 [1]. Despite major gains in total life expectancy (TLE), there are considerable social and health inequalities and poor access to heath care in rural and less developed areas of the country [2]. The National Research Council's Panel on Urban Population Dynamics found that modern-day urban populations live longer than rural populations and that there is wide intra-region variation in life expectancy [3]. The results of a recent study examining late-life health discrepancies in Beijing indicated that urban residents have an advantage in terms of healthy life expectancy mainly because of advantages in socioeconomic status and access to health services [4]. In addition to the urban/rural gap, studies show that substantial regional econo