Effect of the elimination of chronic diseases on disability-free life expectancy among elderly individuals in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2010.

The scope of this study was to establish whether the elimination of certain chronic diseases is capable of leading to the compression of morbidity among elderly individuals in Sao Paulo (Brazil), 2010. A population-based, cross-sectional study was carried out with official data for the city of Sao Paulo (Brazil) in 2010 and data from the SABE (Health, Wellbeing and Ageing) study. A total of 907 elderly individuals were evaluated, 640 of whom were women (64.6%). Sullivan's method was used for the calculation of disability-free life expectancy (DFLE). Life tables for cause elimination were used to calculate the probabilities of death with the elimination of health conditions. In absolute terms, the gains in LE and DFLE were greater in the younger age group (60 to 74 years) in both genders. In relative terms (%DFLE in LE), the gains were higher among women aged 75 years or older and among men aged 60 years. If eliminated, heart disease was the condition that would most lead to the compression of morbidity in both genders. The elimination of chronic diseases from the elderly population could lead to a compression of morbidity in men and women at both 60 years of age and 75 years of age or older.