Trends in male and female healthy life expectancy in Russian Federation (years 1994-2010)

Alexander Ramonov, National Research University Higher School of Economics

Trends in mortality and health using healthy life expectancy indicators were analyzed using Rosstat mortality statistics data and RLMS survey data on health. All rounds included general question on self-rated health. It allowed making comparisons over time using longitudinal sample design (quasi panel) representative of Russian population by key socio demographic parameters. Hypotheses on healthy life expectancy dynamics were tested using indicator of average length of life in “very good”, “good” or “average” health after age thresholds (40 and 60 were chosen as ages after which onset of bad health is significant). Hypotheses of “expansion of morbidity (or health)”, “contraction of morbidity (or health)” and “dynamic equilibrium” were chosen for explanation of Russian male and female health trends.