Definitions of healthspan: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Biomedical Research

Background:

• The term healthspan is prevalent in scientific literature but lacks a unified definition and operationalization.
• Varied interpretations of healthspan impede consistent research and data interpretation.

Approach:

• A systematic review was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases.
• 14,551 records were screened, with 207 meeting inclusion criteria for analysis.
• 187 articles provided definitions of healthspan, with 113 being primary definitions.

Key Points:

• Healthspan definitions encompass the absence of disease and disability, with operationalization focusing on chronic disease onset, disability, or performance limitations.
• A minority of definitions incorporated subjective measures like quality of life.
• Significant heterogeneity exists in how healthspan is defined and measured.

Conclusions:

• Current definitions and operationalizations of healthspan are not standardized.
• This lack of standardization complicates the comparison of research findings.
• A consensus on healthspan definition and measurement is urgently required for advancing research in aging and longevity.