The Contribution of Chronic Diseases to Disability Burden among the Elderly Population in China: Empirical Evidence for Health Policy Priorities

He Chen, Peking University
Haochen Wang, Peking University
Chengli Huang, Peking University
Xiaoying Zheng, Peking University

Along with rapid increase in the ageing population, disabled elderly, who demand more health services than their counterparts, put a heavy pressure on health system in China. However, our knowledge of disease pattern in disability burden among Chinese elderly remain limited. Based on nationally representative data, we employed attribution tool (Nusselder and Looman, 2004) and Sullivan method to decompose disability burden into diseases, in term of disability prevalence and life expectancy with disability (LWD) by diseases. Results suggest that accompanying epidemiologic transition, chronic diseases, especially sensory diseases, have become predominent contributor to disability burden in China. Besides, presbycusis, cataract, cerebrovascular disease, osteoarthritis and unclassified injury, totally accounting for 64% of disabilities, should be the policy priorities for fighting against disability among Chinese elderly.