Gender, educational and ethnic differences in active life expectancy among older Singaporeans.
Abstract
<h4>Aim</h4>The aim of the present study was to compute total life expectancy (TLE),
active life expectancy (ALE) and inactive life expectancy among older Singaporeans
by gender, education and ethnicity.<h4>Methods</h4>Data from a longitudinal survey
of older Singaporeans were used. No difficulty in carrying out activities of daily
living or instrumental activities of daily living was considered as "active." Transition
probabilities across health states (active/inactive/dead) were assessed to develop
multistate life tables, which estimated TLE, ALE and inactive life expectancy.<h4>Results</h4>At
age 60 years, women, versus men, had significantly higher TLE (25.9, 95% confidence
interval [CI] 24.0-27.8 vs 21.6, 95% CI 20.1-23.1), but similar ALE (18.1, 95% CI
17.0-19.2 vs 18.9, 95% CI 17.7-20.2). Those with high (secondary or higher), versus
low (primary or less), education had significantly higher TLE (28.5, 95% CI 25.0-32.0
vs 22.5, 95% CI 21.1-23.9) and ALE (23.5, 95% CI 21.2-25.7 vs 17.1, 95% CI 16.1-18.0)
at age 60 years. Those of Chinese, versus non-Chinese, ethnicity had significantly
higher ALE at age 60 years (19.4, 95% CI 18.4-20.3 vs 15.0, 95% CI 13.4-16.7).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Unlike
Western nations, there was no gender difference in ALE among older adults in Singapore.
However, difference in ALE by education among older Singaporeans was similar to that
observed in Western societies. Policies focusing specifically on improving women's
health at all ages, in addition to policies that increase population education levels,
are promising approaches to improving ALE. Recognizing ethnic differences in ALE will
help target policies that increase ALE in multicultural societies.
Type
Journal articleSubject
HumansActivities of Daily Living
Health Surveys
Life Expectancy
Follow-Up Studies
Sex Factors
Aged
Middle Aged
Ethnic Groups
Educational Status
Singapore
Female
Male
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/22818Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1111/ggi.12493Publication Info
Chan, Angelique; Malhotra, Rahul; Matchar, David B; Ma, Stefan; & Saito, Yasuhiko (2016). Gender, educational and ethnic differences in active life expectancy among older Singaporeans.
Geriatrics & gerontology international, 16(4). pp. 466-473. 10.1111/ggi.12493. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/22818.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
David Bruce Matchar
Professor of Medicine
My research relates to clinical practice improvement - from the development of clinical
policies to their implementation in real world clinical settings. Most recently my
major content focus has been cerebrovascular disease. Other major clinical areas in
which I work include the range of disabling neurological conditions, cardiovascular
disease, and cancer prevention. Notable features of my work are: (1) reliance on
analytic strategies such as meta-analysis, simulation, decision analy

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