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Review
. 2010 Mar;88(1):30-53.
doi: 10.1111/j.1468-0009.2010.00588.x.

A healthy bottom line: healthy life expectancy as an outcome measure for health improvement efforts

Matthew C Stiefel  1 , Rocco J Perla, Bonnie L Zell
Affiliations
Review

A healthy bottom line: healthy life expectancy as an outcome measure for health improvement efforts

Matthew C Stiefel et al. Milbank Q. 2010 Mar.

Abstract

Context: Good health is the most important outcome of health care, and healthy life expectancy (HLE), an intuitive and meaningful summary measure combining the length and quality of life, has become a standard in the world for measuring population health.

Methods: This article critically reviews the literature and practices around the world for measuring and improving HLE and synthesizes that information as a basis for recommendations for the adoption and adaptation of HLE as an outcome measure in the United States.

Findings: This article makes the case for adoption of HLE as an outcome measure at the national, state, community, and health care system levels in the United States to compare the effectiveness of alternative practices, evaluate disparities, and guide resource allocation.

Conclusions: HLE is a clear, consistent, and important population health outcome measure that can enable informed judgments about value for investments in health care.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Life Expectancy and Disability-Free Life Expectancy for Belgian Males and Females, 2004 Source: European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit. 2007. Interpreting Health Expectancies. Used with permission. Available at http://www.ehemu.eu/pdf/Interpreting_HE_guide_ver_6.pdf.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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