Fruit and vegetable consumption and its contribution to inequalities in life expectancy and disability-free life expectancy in ten European countries.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To assess to what extent educational differences in total life expectancy (TLE) and disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) could be reduced by improving fruit and vegetable consumption in ten European countries.

Methods

Data from national census or registries with mortality follow-up, EU-SILC, and ESS were used in two scenarios to calculate the impact: the upward levelling scenario (exposure in low educated equals exposure in high educated) and the elimination scenario (no exposure in both groups). Results are estimated for men and women between ages 35 and 79 years.

Results

Varying by country, upward levelling reduced inequalities in DFLE by 0.1-1.1 years (1-10%) in males, and by 0.0-1.3 years (0-18%) in females. Eliminating exposure reduced inequalities i

SUBMITTER: Baars AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6614160 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature