Disability free life expectancy in older Italians

To estimate Disability-Free Life Expectancy (DFLE) among a cohort of 3005 Italians aged 65-84 and evaluate geographical differences.

Sullivan method was used to estimate DFLE based on the Performance Test (PPTs), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs); furthermore, a hierarchical scale of disability was defined to evaluate the pattern of DFLE and geographical differences.

Men aged 65-69 will live 67% of their remaining life free of PPTs disability, 77% free of IADLs and 83% free of ADLs disability. Women aged 65-69 will live 44, 63 and 76%, respectively. In the hierarchical structure, mild DFLE for subjects aged 65-69, was of 12.8 years for both sexes; moderate DFLE was of 13.4 and 14.2 years and severe DFLE was of 13.5 and 15.3 years, for men and women, respectively. People living in Central Italy are those with the highest number of years lived free of mild disability; people living in Northern Italy are instead those expected to live more years free of moderate and severe disability.

The hierarchical approach showed that women tend to live more years with some level of disability than men, although the moderate and severe disability occur almost simultaneously among men.