Joint meeting of the Networks of CA and WPL Luxembourg, 30 th January 2008

1. Joint meeting of the Networks of CA and WPL Luxembourg, 30th January 2008 Progress of Task Force on Health Expectancies (TF-HE) Jean-Marie Robine & Carol Jagger

2. Background The EU Task Force on Health Expectancies (TF-HE) : • was established in 2006 • to monitor the development of Healthy Life Years (HLY) towards its goal to be adopted as a Structural Indicator The main role of the TF-HE is therefore to ensure that HLY will subsequently meet the Grade A criteria for a Structural Indicator

3. Definition of Quality Grade A for EU Structural Indicators An indicator is graded “A” if data • is available on time for the Spring Report for MS, US and Japan; • cover the years 1999 until at least the reference year t-2 • is collected on the basis of a common methodology • can be considered comparable for US and Japan with any major differences being assessed and documented • are comparable over time; impact of procedural or conceptual changes being documented • is collected from reliable sources applying high standards with regard to methodology/accuracy and is well documented in line with Eurostat metadata standard

4. Progress of TF-HE (1) Continuing work: • Organised TF sessions to allow countries to share experience of HLY and underlying data • Opened discussion on the validation of the data used (activity limitation question) • Facilitated formal discussion on dissemination of first HLY values through the Country Reports prepared by EHEMU

5. Progress of TF-HE (2) Since the last NCA/NWPL meeting in July 2007: • Three year Strategic Plan developed, discussed and adopted • Website developed (www.tf-he.eu) • Involvement of US through Healthy People 2010 • Attracted international organisations (OECD, WHO)

6. Example 1 Involvement of all MS in the development of Country Reports

7. History of Country Reports • Issue 0 prepared with ECHP data in 2005 • Sent to the EHEMU Public Health and Expert Network members with a questionnaire • Results of evaluation presented to 2nd TF-HE June 2006 • Issue 1 developed early 2007 with SILC data • Further consultation with MS and discussed in 5th TF-HE meeting in June 2007 • Final version January 2008

9. Example 2 Validation of the underling HLY measure

10. Validation of GALI question • HLY based on a Global Activity Limitation (GALI) question • Some members of TF-HE concerned that GALI is self-reported (not objectively measured) limitation and that country differences may be due to cultural differences in reporting • SILC data has few other health measures

11. Validation of GALI question • EHLEIS project has been using Survey of Health and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) data to explore how GALI question related to other subjectively and objectively measured health variables • Self-report • ADL, IADL, depression (Euro-D), chronic conditions, symptoms • Objective • Walking speed, grip strength

12. Number of chronic conditions *probabilities estimated by logistic regression and adjusted for age and gender

13. Thank you!

14. www.tf-he.eu