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US trends in quality-adjusted life expectancy from 1987 to 2008: Combining national surveys to more broadly track the health of the nation

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  • Stewart, S.T.
  • Cutler, D.M.
  • Rosen, A.B.

Abstract

Objectives. We used data from multiple national health surveys to systematically track the health of the US adult population. Methods. We estimated trends in quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) from 1987 to 2008 by using national mortality data combined with data on symptoms and impairments from the National Medical Expenditure Survey (1987), National Health Interview Survey (1987, 1994-1995, 1996), Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (1992, 1996, 2000-2008), National Nursing Home Survey (1985, 1995, and 1999), and Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (1992, 1994-2008). We decomposed QALE into changes in life expectancy, impairments, symptoms, and smoking and body mass index. Results. Years of QALE increased overall and for all demographic groups-men, women, Whites, and Blacks-despite being slowed by increases in obesity and a rising prevalence of some symptoms and impairments. Overall QALE gains were large: 2.4 years at age 25 years and 1.7 years at age 65 years. Conclusions. Understanding and consistently tracking the drivers of QALE change is central to informed policymaking. Harmonizing data from multiple national surveys is an important step in building this infrastructure. Copyright © 2013 by the American Public Health Association®.

Suggested Citation

  • Stewart, S.T. & Cutler, D.M. & Rosen, A.B., 2013. "US trends in quality-adjusted life expectancy from 1987 to 2008: Combining national surveys to more broadly track the health of the nation," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(11), pages 78-87.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301250_8
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301250
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    Cited by:

    1. Susan T. Stewart & David M. Cutler, 2014. "The Contribution of Behavior Change and Public Health to Improved U.S. Population Health," NBER Working Papers 20631, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Charles L. Baum, 2017. "The Effects of College on Weight: Examining the “Freshman 15” Myth and Other Effects of College Over the Life Cycle," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 54(1), pages 311-336, February.
    3. Tina Highfill & Elizabeth Bernstein, 2019. "Using disability adjusted life years to value the treatment of thirty chronic conditions in the U.S. from 1987 to 2010: a proof of concept," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 449-466, December.
    4. Nesson, Erik T. & Robinson, Joshua J., 2015. "An information theory based framework for the measurement of population health," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 86-103.

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