Healthy life expectancy for selected race and gender subgroups: the case of Tennessee

To analyze healthy life expectancy (HLE) for major racial and gender subgroups, based on the diverse population of Tennessee and compared with the United States.

We use life table methodology and the HLE calculation model of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), using two databases for 2001: NCHS National Vital Statistics Reports life tables and CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey.

For Tennessee, although average total life expectancy (TLE) is 73.6 years at birth, only 61.1 years of "good" health are expected. Substantial racial and gender differences are found in both TLEs and HLEs with black males having the lowest and white females the highest. Although females have longer TLE, they spend more years in an unhealthy state than males.

The findings raise new challenges for researchers and health policy makers for accomplishing the dual goals of longer life expectancy and elimination of health disparities among population subgroups.