J Korean Med Sci.  2016 Nov;31(Suppl 2):S139-S145. 10.3346/jkms.2016.31.S2.S139.

Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) in Korea: 2005–2011

• Lee JY
• Ock M
• Kim SH
• Go DS
• Kim HJ
• Jo MW

• KMID: 2360664
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2016.31.S2.S139

Abstract

Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) is a summary measurement that estimates the average number of years that a person at a given age can expect to live an equivalent of full health. HALE has not been previously reported at national or regional levels in Korea. This study aimed to measure HALE from 2005 to 2011 in Korea at both the national and regional levels as part of the Korean National Burden Study of 2012. To measure life expectancy (LE) and HALE, we used the life table method and an approach proposed by Sullivan. We used three main data sets to estimate HALE: probability of death, prevalence of disease, and disability weights. Overall, LE and HALE have increased from 2005 to 2011. For example, in 2011, LE and HALE at birth in males were 77.6 and 65.8 years, respectively, and 84.4 and 68.9 in females. It might be assumed that the overall health status of Korean population has been increasing. However, we confirmed that a gap between LE and HALE still exists. Additionally, we found out that there was a significant difference between LE and HALE among various sub-regions. This study is the first to measure HALE using our own database, including disability weight that reflected Korean preferences. Finally, the Korean government and society should make an effort to reduce the gap between LE and HALE and to reduce regional differences.

Keyword

Life Expectancy; Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy; Health-Related Quality of Life; Republic of Korea

MeSH Terms

Dataset
Female
Humans
Korea*
Life Expectancy*
Life Tables
Male
Parturition
Prevalence
Republic of Korea
Weights and Measures

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy at age 0 in 2005, 2008, and 2011. KNHANES, Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; LE, life expectancy; HALE, health-adjusted life expectancy.

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  Fig. 2 Differences between life expectancy and health-adjusted life expectancy by age and gender in 2005 and 2011. KNHANES, Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; LE, life expectancy; HALE, health-adjusted life expectancy.

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  Fig. 3 Life expectancy and HALE (A) at ages 0, (B) at ages 40. HALE, health-adjusted life expectancy.

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