2022 Volume 71 Issue 5 Pages 408-415
The indicators of healthy life expectancy that are used in the national health promotion program Health Japan 21 (the second term) are the “average period of time spent without limitation in daily activities,” “average period of time individuals consider themselves as healthy,” and “average period of time spent without requiring assistance for activities of daily living.” It has been confirmed that there are large differences in definitions and calculation methods among these three indicators. From 2010 to 2019 (the evaluation period for achieving the target of healthy life expectancy), the expected number of healthy years for each indicator increased nationwide. The expected number of unhealthy years for the “average period of time spent without requiring assistance for activities of daily living” increased slightly; however, those for the other two indicators decreased. The definitions and calculation methods of the indicators, and their nationwide trends from 2010 to 2019 are important for interpreting healthy life expectancy at the prefecture and municipality levels.
