Gender Differences in Life Expectancy with Chronic Disease at Old Age in Bulgaria

Abstract

Life expectancy at all ages, including old age, is increasing. The increase in old age life expectancy is quite often accompanied by an increase in the years lived in bad health, mainly due to chronic diseases. The present article aims at measuring the gender differences in the life expectancy with chronic disease at the age of 65 and over in Bulgaria. Data from the latest European Health Interview Survey carried out in Bulgaria have been used. In order to measure the differences between men and women, the life expectancy for people with and without chronic disease is calculated, while to measure the gender differences and the age differences in life expectancy with chronic disease the decomposition method is used. Through the decomposition method, gender differences are decomposed to ones due to differences in mortality and others due to health status. The results show that the differences in life expectancy between men and women with chronic disease are significant and, on the one hand, are due to the lower mortality rate among females and, on the other hand – to their worse health status.