29 Sep 2010

A recent report by the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI) entitled Illustrating Ageing in Ireland, North and South found that since the 1920s the number of years males can expect to live rose by about 20 years while the number of years females can expect to live rose by about 24-25 years.  It is not clear, however, if these years of life gained are lived in good health

Pictured left to right: Conor Breen (CARDI), Dr Roger O'Sullivan (CARDI), Lorraine Fahy (IPH) and Safa Abdalla (IPH/UCC).

While there is considerable policy focus on reducing inequalities in life expectancy, much less is known about the variation in health expectancy that exists across the island of Ireland. The debate hinges on our understanding of what is driving the changes in life expectancy, healthy life expectancy and the gap between the two.

IPH in association with CARDI, recently hosted a Health Analysts' Special Interest Group (HASIG) seminar discussing the policy implications of this debate. The seminar introduced the range of health expectancy measures and compared them to life expectancy.  Initial findings from the all-island study of life expectancy and healthy life expectancy were also presented.

Access the event agenda

Access presentations below

• Policy context and the compression of morbidity debate - Conor Breen, CARDI
   
• Introduction to life expectancy and health expectancy measures - Safa Abdalla, IPH/University College Cork
   
• Initial findings of an all-island study: Republic of Ireland analysis - Safa Abdalla, IPH/UCC, Northern Ireland analysis- Lorraine Fahy, IPH