AUTHOR=Zhan Yuanyuan , Han Yaofeng , Fang Ya 

TITLE=Socioeconomic Disparities in Disability-Free Life Expectancy and Life Expectancy Among Older Chinese Adults From a 7-Year Prospective Cohort Study

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=67

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604242

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2022.1604242

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> We examined the magnitude and determinants of socioeconomic disparities in disability-free life expectancy and life expectancy at age 65 (DFLE<sub>65</sub> and LE<sub>65</sub>) in China.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Data from Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey collected during 2011–2018 (8,184 participants aged ≥65) were used. Socioeconomic status (SES) was measured by economic status (ES), and education, respectively. Multistate Markov models and microsimulations were fitted to estimate DFLE<sub>65</sub> and LE<sub>65</sub>.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> LE<sub>65</sub> between high- and low-ES groups differed by 2.20 years for males and 2.04 years for females. The DFLE<sub>65</sub> disparity in ES was 1.51 and 1.29 years for males and females, respectively. Not undergoing physical examinations, inadequate fruit/vegetable intake, and stress contributed to 35.10% and 57.36% of DFLE<sub>65</sub> disparity in ES, as well as 26.36% and 42.65% of LE<sub>65</sub> disparity for males and females, respectively. These disparities in education and ES were of a similar magnitude, while the above factors contributed little to education disparity.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Socioeconomic disparities in DFLE<sub>65</sub> and LE<sub>65</sub> existed in China. Physical examination, fruit/vegetable intake and stress partly explained these disparities.</p>