Impact of selected risk factors on expected lifetime without long-standing, limiting illness in Denmark

Objective. To estimate the impacts of tobacco smoking, high alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and overweight on expected lifetime with and without long-standing, limiting illness. Methods. Life tables for each level of exposure to the risk factors were constructed, mainly on the basis of the Danish National Cohort Study. Expected lifetime without long-standing, limiting illness was estimated for exposed and unexposed persons by combining life tables and prevalence data from the Danish Health Interview Survey 2000 (14,503 participants aged 25+). Results. The life expectancy of 25-year-olds was 9-10 years shorter for heavy smokers than for those who never smoke, and all the lifetime lost would have been without long-standing, limiting illness. Similarly, all 5 years of expected lifetime lost by men with high alcohol consumption would have been without illness. The expected lifetime without long-standing, limiting illness was 8-10 years shorter among sedentary than physically active people. Obesity shortened lifetime without illness by 5 years for men and ten years for women. Conclusion. The results of this study could be used in health policy-making, as the potential gains in public health due to interventions against these risk factors could be evaluated, when the prevalence of exposure to the risk factor is available. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.