[Healthy life expectancy of older migrants and non-migrants in three European countries over time]

We analysed differences in healthy life expectancy at age 50 (HLE₅₀) between migrants and non-migrants in Belgium, the Netherlands, and England and Wales, and their trends over time between 2001 and 2011 in the latter two countries. Population, mortality and health data were derived from registers, census or surveys. HLE₅₀ was calculated for non-migrants, western and non-western migrants by sex. We applied decomposition techniques to determine whether differences in HLE₅₀ between origin groups and changes in HLE₅₀ over time were attributable to either differences in mortality or health. The results show that in all three countries and among both sexes, older migrants, in particular those from non-western origin, could expect to live fewer years in good health than older non-migrants, mainly because of differences in self-rated health. Differences in HLE₅₀ between migrants and non-migrants diminished over time in the Netherlands, but they increased in England and Wales. Improvements in HLE₅₀ over time were mainly attributable to mortality decline. Interventions aimed at reducing the health and mortality inequalities between older migrants and non-migrants should focus on prevention, and target especially non-western migrants.