Is there compression or expansion of morbidity in the Philippines?

This study contributes to previous initiatives examining healthy and active aging in the Philippines.

We employed the Sullivan method to calculate healthy life expectancy (HLE) and active life expectancy (ALE) using the 2007 Philippine Survey on Aging and the 2018 Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health. We compared the estimates at two time points, providing evidence of change over time.

There was no statistically significant change in the relative proportion of HLE over time for both sexes, suggesting dynamic equilibrium. For men, the increase in life expectancy was mainly an increase in unhealthy state (UHLE). The slight increases in HLE for all ages were not statistically significant. The differences in relative increase in HLE were not statistically significant. HLE for women increased over time, with statistically significant increases at ages 60 and 70 years. ALE declined in all age groups for both sexes, but the decline was statistically significant only among women in their 60s and 70s. There was also a statistically significant decline in the proportion of remaining life in an active state for all ages among both men and women, suggesting an expansion of morbidity.

Findings suggest no evidence of compression of morbidity in the Philippines from 2007 to 2018. The HLE results suggest a dynamic equilibrium, while ALE results indicate an expansion of morbidity. The findings emphasize the need for the government to promote life course interventions that foster healthy choices and conduct further research to understand the factors influencing longevity and active aging in the Philippines. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 511-515.