Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 15, 2026
11:35
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
58.6K
Changes in Disability, Severe Disability, and Dependence in Spain (1986-2020)
Javier Casillas-Clot1, Andreu Nolasco1, Pamela Pereyra-Zamora1
1Research Unit for the Analysis of Mortality and Health Statistics, Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine, Public Health, and History of Science, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
International Journal of Public Health
|October 15, 2025
Summary
Spain saw reduced mild disability but increased severe disability and dependence, especially in older adults. Women live longer but with more years of disability, posing challenges for long-term care planning.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Understanding trends in disability and dependence is crucial for effective long-term care planning in aging populations.
- Spain has undergone significant demographic shifts, necessitating an analysis of disability trends over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine changes in disability, severe disability, and dependence in Spain from 1986 to 2020.
- To assess the implications of these trends for long-term care planning.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of microdata from four national disability surveys (1986, 1999, 2008, 2020).
- Application of the Sullivan method to estimate life expectancy free of disability, severe disability, and dependence.
- Stratification of estimates by sex and age groups (6, 45, 65, 85 years).
Main Results:
- Disability-free life expectancy increased for both sexes, with men showing slightly greater gains.
- Years lived with severe disability and dependence have risen, particularly among older adults.
- Women live longer but experience more years with disability and dependence compared to men, indicating a partial compression of morbidity.
Conclusions:
- Spain exhibits a relative compression of disability, but with an increasing burden of severe disability and dependence in older age.
- These trends present challenges for care systems, especially in societies relying on informal caregiving.
- Findings support policy reforms for resilient and equitable long-term care models.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Intellectual Disability
632
Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
632
01:22Applications of Life Tables
323
Life tables are versatile across various fields, providing a quantitative basis for analyzing mortality and survival rates. Whether used by demographers, actuaries, epidemiologists, or sociologists, life tables offer valuable insights into the dynamics of life and death, facilitating informed decisions in public health, insurance, conservation, and beyond. Their broad applicability highlights the interconnectedness of demographic data with practical outcomes in everyday life and strategic...
323
00:52Pareto Chart
7.6K
A Pareto chart is a bar graph or a combination of both line and bar graphs. The bar lengths represent the individual values or the frequency, while the lines represent the cumulative total values. In this chart, the longest bars are arranged on the left and the shortest bars on the right, which makes it easier to read and interpret the data. It can also be called a Pareto diagram or Pareto analysis.
The Pareto chart is named after the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who described the Pareto...
The Pareto chart is named after the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who described the Pareto...
7.6K
01:18Factors Affecting Illness
5.1K
When a person's physical, emotional, intellectual, social development or spiritual functioning is compromised, this deviation from a healthy normal state is called illness. Illness creates stress that in turn harms individuals. Irritation, anger, denial, hopelessness, and fear are behavioral and emotional changes an individual experiences in the phases of illness. A variety of factors influence a person's health and well-being.
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...
5.1K
01:08Prevalence and Incidence
1.5K
In statistical epidemiology and health sciences, two essential metrics—prevalence and incidence—are fundamental for understanding disease dynamics within a population. These measures enable public health officials, epidemiologists, and researchers to assess the burden of diseases, allocate resources effectively, and design impactful public health policies and interventions.
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
1.5K
01:27Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
1.1K
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) serves as the primary classification system for mental health disorders, providing standardized diagnostic criteria for clinicians and researchers. First published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 1952, the DSM has undergone several revisions to reflect evolving psychiatric understanding. The fifth edition, DSM-5, released in 2013, introduced key updates that expanded diagnostic categories and modified diagnostic...
1.1K