Determinants of educational inequalities in disability-free life expectancy between ages 35 and 80 in Europe. (March 2021) - Valverde, José Rubio
Abstract: Socioeconomic inequalities in disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) exist across all European countries, yet the driving determinants of these differences are not completely known. We calculated the impact on educational inequalities in DFLE of equalizing the distribution of eight risk factors for mortality and disability using register-based mortality data and survey data from 15 European countries for individuals between 35 and 80 years old. From the selected risk factors, the ones that contribute the most to the educational inequalities in DFLE are low income, high body-weight, smoking (for men), and manual occupation of the father. Potentially large reductions in inequalities can be achieved in Eastern European countries, where educational inequalities in DFLE are also the largest. Highlights: Disability-free life expectancy is lower among low than the high educated in Europe. Over-all, the risk factor contributing most to the inequality was low income. Other important contributors are high body-weight, smoking and father's manual occupation. Size of inequality and contribution of risk factors vary importantly between countries.