2023-12-22 13:48:28
December 22, 2023
The trend has been increasing since 2008: life expectancy without disability is increasing among women and men. However, according to figures from the Directorate of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees) published this Friday, the indicators declined between 2021 and 2022.
An increasing life expectancy? So much the better. But in what state of health? Life expectancy without disability – that is to say in good health – is measured by the Department of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees). Thus, according to statisticians, at age 65, women can expect to live another 11.8 years without disability and men, 10.2 years. Figures increasing compared to 2008, the first year of calculating this indicator with the current method. Thus, in 14 years, the indicator has increased by 1 year and 9 months for women, 1 year and 6 months for men.
What is the calculation method? A sample of people answers the following question: “Have you been limited, for at least six months, because of a health problem, in the activities that people usually do? » Respondents indicate whether they experience limitations, strong or not if applicable. Thus, in 2022, life expectancy without severe disability at age 65 rises to 18.3 years for women and 15.5 years for men.
A decline still difficult to explain
Since 2019, the evolution of these indicators has been discontinuous, the fault of the Covid-19 epidemic. After a sharp increase in mortality in 2020, and a drop in indicators, these had progressed significantly in 2021, even exceeding the levels expected if it had not been for the health crisis.
However, in 2022, as the pandemic receded, life expectancies without disability and without severe disability at age 65 fell and returned to their 2020 level. How can we explain this? For the moment, statisticians are not risking it. “The data from the following years should make it possible to verify whether the decline observed in 2022 is momentary, erasing the abnormal development observed in 2021 before a return to the usual developments observed before the crisis, or whether this decline continues and marks a break in the long-term trend of the indicator”, they note.
Well placed in Europe… in 2021
In 2021, France was above the European average. Life expectancy without disability for women was 2 years and 8 months higher for French women, and 1 year and 10 for French men. Concerning the other indicators, “in 2021, France is 2nd among the 27 countries of the European Union for life expectancy of women at 65 years old and 3rd for life expectancy of men at 65 years old. It is in 3rd place for disability-free life expectancy for women at age 65 and 4th for that of men. details the study. While 2021 was marked by an increase in indicators, will the 2022 figures still place France in a good position compared to European averages?
To note : the Drees also calculates life expectancy at birth, without disability, which therefore takes into account all ages and life events. “At birth, in 2022, women can hope to live 65.3 years without disability and 77.5 years without severe disability; men, 63.8 years without disability and 73.5 years without severe disability”, specify the statisticians. Figures also down compared to 2021.
Source: Drees, Disability-free life expectancy at age 65 is 11.8 years for women and 10.2 years for men in 2022, December 2023
Written by: Dorothée Duchemin – Edited by Emmanuel Ducreuzet
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