| |
A very simple way to
assess the impact of chronic disease on life expectancy is to
ask the patient one question, "How is your health?"
and instruct the patient to give a one word answer: "excellent,"
"good," "fair," or "poor."
Researchers have asked
a large number of people this question and then kept track of
them long enough for most of them to die. The researchers then
calculated the average length of life as a function of the patients'
answer to the question about their health, their gender, and their
age.
To use this simplified
method, follow these steps:
Determine the patient's
chronological age
Ask "How is
your health - excellent, good, fair, or poor?"
Use a table to determine
physiological age (see below, Table
3.4.1 [men], Table 3.4.2
[women]. Physiological age based on chronological age and self-reported
health status)
Use another table
to determine life expectancy based on physiological age (see
below, Figure 3.4.1 Life
expectancy based on physiological age)
Below are tables for
determining a person's physiological age, based on their chronological
age and their response to the question, "How is your health?"
Click
here for instructions on how to use this table.
| Table
3.4.1: Physiological age based on chronological age
and self-reported health status (men)
|
|---|
|
| EXCELLENT
| GOOD
| FAIR
| POOR
|
|---|
| 65
| 58 | 64 | 68 | 73 |
| 70 | 62 | 69 | 73 | 78 |
| 75 | 67 | 74 | 78 | 83 |
| 80 | 72 | 79 | 83 | 85+ |
| Reference:
Welch HG, Albertsen PC, Nease RF, et al. Estimating
treatment benefits for the elderly: the effect of
competing risks. Ann intern Med. 1996; 124:577-84. |
|
Click
here for instructions on how to use this table.
| Table
3.4.2: Physiological age based on chronological age
and self-reported health status (women)
|
|---|
|
| EXCELLENT
| GOOD
| FAIR
| POOR
|
|---|
| 65
| 60 | 64 | 66 | 72 |
| 70 | 65 | 69 | 71 | 77 |
| 75 | 70 | 74 | 76 | 82 |
| 80 | 75 | 79 | 81 | 85+ |
| Reference:
Welch HG, Albertsen PC, Nease RF, et al. Estimating
treatment benefits for the elderly: the effect of competing
risks. Ann intern Med. 1996; 124:577-84. |
|
Once you have
determined the patient's physiological age (based on their chronological
age and self-reported health status), you can look up their estimated
life expectancy by using a table like the one below.
Click
here for instructions on how to use this table.
| Figure
3.4.1: Determining Estimated Life Expectancy
|
|---|
|
| Reference:
Welch HG, Albertsen PC, Nease RF, et al. Estimating
treatment benefits for the elderly: the effect of competing
risks. Ann Intern Med. 1996; 124:577-84. |
|
|