An investigation into the impact of question change on estimates of general health status and healthy life expectancy.

Abstract

This article investigates the likely effects of incorporating the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) general health question upon Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates of general health and healthy life expectancy (HLE). The analysis indicates that while these estimates will undergo revision following the integration of the EU-SILC general health question, for the most part the underlying trend remains unaffected. Incorporation of the EU-SILC question in the reporting of UK health statistics will improve comparability with other EU member states, and provide a stronger indicator of functional health status. ONS will adopt the EU-SILC general health question exclusively from the reporting period 2006-08. However, to further clarify the implications of this transition, ONS will present two estimates of HLE based on the original and EU-SILC general health questions for the period 2005-07. This article has important implications for setting targets and monitoring progress in Public Sector Agreement Indicators for fitness for work beyond the state pension age and healthy ageing.