The use of the global activity limitation Indicator and healthy life years by member states and the European Commission

Petronille Bogaert,Jean-Marie Robine,Isabelle Beluche,Emmanuelle Cambois,Herman Van Oyen

doi:10.1186/s13690-018-0279-z

Abstract

BackgroundIn 2005, the European Union (EU) started to use a disability-free life expectancy, known as Healthy Life Years (HLY), to monitor progress in the strategic European policies such as the 2000 Lisbon strategy. HLY are based on the underlying measure: the Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI). Twelve years after its implementation, this study aims to assess its current use in EU Member States and the European Commission.MethodsIn March 2017, a questionnaire was sent to 28 Member states and the European Commission. The questionnaire inquired how the GALI and HLY are used to set policy targets, in which surveys the GALI has been introduced since 2005, how the GALI and HLY are presented, and what the capacity in each country is to investigate the GALI and HLY.ResultsThe survey was answered by 22 Member States and by the Commission. HLY are often used to set targets and develop strategies in health such as national health plans. Analysis of HLY has even led to policy change. In some countries, HLY have become the main indicator for health, gaining more importance than life expectancy. More recently, the GALI and HLY have also been used for policy targets outside the health sector such as in the area of pension and retirement age or in the context of sustainable development. Regarding surveys, the GALI is mostly obtained from the EU-SILC, SHARE and EHIS, but is also increasingly introduced in national surveys. National health reporting systems usually present HLY on their national statistics websites. Most countries have up to three specialists working on the GALI and HLY, which has been consistent through time. Others have increased their capacity over various institutions.ConclusionHLY is an indicator that is systematically used to monitor health developments in most EU countries. The SHARE, EU-SILC and EHIS are commonly used to assess HLY through the GALI. The results are then described in reports and presented on national statistics websites and used in different policy settings. Expertise to analyse the GALI and HLY is available in most countries.

Highlights

In 2005, the European Union (EU) started to use a disability-free life expectancy, known as Healthy Life Years (HLY), to monitor progress in the strategic European policies such as the 2000 Lisbon strategy
This study aims to assess the current use of the Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI) and HLY indicators by the European Commission and EU Member States
In Estonia, for example, analyses of HLY led to policy change as the mid-term assessment of the national health plan was not as good as expected and new plans were set by the Ministry of Social Affairs

Summary

Introduction

In 2005, the European Union (EU) started to use a disability-free life expectancy, known as Healthy Life Years (HLY), to monitor progress in the strategic European policies such as the 2000 Lisbon strategy. HLY are based on the underlying measure: the Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI). Health expectancies combine information on mortality and morbidity, where the quality of remaining life is as important as the quantity [1]. Years (HLY), a disability-free life expectancy, measures the expected years lived without participation restriction. In Europe, it has been monitored since 2005 and was selected to help measure progress in strategic European policies such as the 2000 Lisbon strategy and the European strategy on Active and Healthy Ageing [3]. HLY are based on the underlying measure: the Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI) which is provided through surveys. The question is: “for at least the past six months, to what extent have you been limited because of a health problem in activities people usually do?

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