Trends in disability-free life expectancy in the United States, 1970-90

This article provides estimates of active life expectancy, defined as disability-free life expectancy, for males and females for three dates: 1970, 1980, and 1990. Increases in life expectancy during the 1980s were concentrated in years without disability. This contrasts with the preceding decade during which almost all of the increase in life expectancy was in disabled years. Recent increases in both total life expectancy and disability-free life expectancy have been greater for males than for females. The primary reason for the increase in disability-free life during the 1980s is a decrease in the proportion of the population who are disabled among those in their late 50s and their 60s.