[Estimating the value of disability-free life expectancy for western countries in the last decade. How can this new health status indicator be used?].

Disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) is an indicator of the mean duration of life in good health, based on the measurement of mortality combined with the measurement of disability. To date, some experimental calculations have been carried out mainly in Canada, England, France, the Netherlands and the United States of America. Taking these studies as a whole, disability-free life expectancy in the last decade can be estimated at about 59 years for men and about 63 years for women. The share of years of disability within life expectancy ranges from 11% to 27%. The calculations show that women suffer disability for a greater part of their life expectancy than men. The calculations also reveal social inequalities in health. Health authorities in Western countries are showing increasing interest in this indicator today. The main points in its favour are its simplicity in practice, its usefulness for determining objectives, allocating resources, measuring the success or failure of health policies, assessing current needs and defining future scenarios.