Years of Potential Life Lost
Before Age 65 -- United States, 1987
The number of years of potential life lost before age 65 (YPLL) is
a
measure of premature mortality that takes into account the age at
death. The rate of YPLL decreased from 5016 per 100,000 U.S.
residents
in 1986 (final data (1)) to 4949/100,000 in 1987 (10% sample
provisional data (2)), representing a 1.3% decline. Provisional
YPLL
for 1987 was lower than final YPLL for 1986 for 10 of 13 major
categories (Table 1). The largest decline in YPLL (16%) occurred
for
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). A 45% increase in YPLL was
attributed to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, which
changed rank order of YPLL from 1986 (eighth) to 1987 (seventh).
Small
increases in YPLL occurred for malignant neoplasms (0.3%) and
cerebrovascular disease (0.1%). In the absence of increased
HIV-related
YPLL, the total YPLL rate would have decreased 2.2% from 1986 to
1987.
When age-adjusted YPLL rates were calculated by state (Figure 1),
states in the two highest quartiles appear predominantly in the
southern half of the United States. The higher YPLL rates may
reflect
the racial composition of the southern states since they have a
higher
proportion of blacks (4), and blacks have a lower life expectancy
than
whites (5). The YPLL rate for the District of Columbia
(11,868/100,000)
far exceeds the highest rate for any state (6876/100,000).
Reported by: Epidemiology and Surveillance Br, Div of Surveillance
and
Epidemiologic Studies, Epidemiology Program Office, CDC.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: Different data sources were used to calculate YPLL
attributed to HIV infection in 1986 and 1987. For 1986 and previous
years, YPLL were calculated using deaths reported through CDC
surveillance of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cases. For 1987,
YPLL were calculated from national vital records using ICD-9 codes
042-044 for classifying and coding "HIV infection." These codes
were
introduced by NCHS in 1987 (2).
References
National Center for Health Statistics. Advance report of final
mortality statistics, 1986. Hyattsville, Maryland: US Department of
Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 1988; DHHS
publication no. (PHS)88-1120. (Monthly vital statistics report; vol
37,
no. 6 suppl).
2.National Center for Health Statistics. Annual summary of births,
marriages, divorces, and deaths: United States, 1987. Hyattsville,
Maryland: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health
Service, 1988; DHHS publication no. (PHS)88-1120. (Monthly vital
statistics report; vol 36, no. 13).
3.Irwin R. 1980-1986 Intercensal population estimates by race, sex,
and age (machine-readable data file). Alexandria, Virginia:
Demo-Detail, November 16, 1987.
4.Bureau of the Census. State and metropolitan area data book,
1986.
Washington, DC: US Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census,
1986:509.
5.Keith VM, Smith DP. The current differential in black and white
life
expectancy. Demography 1988;25:625-32.
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