Disability-free life expectancy at old ages in Egypt

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Disability prevalence and its impact on life expectancy among older populations are critical public health concerns.
• Understanding gender differences in disability is essential for targeted health policy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate disability prevalence, severity, and types in Egypt's older population (60+).
• To calculate disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) by sex, age, and disability type.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2016 Household Observatory Survey (HOS-2016) with 4658 participants aged 60+.
• Employed the United Nations Washington Group on Disability Statistics' questions for disability identification.
• Calculated DFLE using the Sullivan method.

Main Results:

• Older women reported higher disability prevalence than older men.
• Women had longer overall life expectancy and longer disabled life expectancies (DLEs) but a lower proportion of DFLE.
• At age 60, approximately 30% of remaining life expectancy involves mobility and vision limitations.

Conclusions:

• Gender disparities exist in disability prevalence and life expectancy among older Egyptians.
• Men, despite shorter lifespans, anticipate a greater proportion of life free from disability.
• Health policies for ageing populations must consider gender-specific experiences and contextual differences.