Lack of improvement of life expectancy at advanced ages in The Netherlands

Background Several countries have reported an increase in life expectancy at advanced ages. This paper analyses recent changes in life expectancy at age 60 and 85 in The Netherlands, a low mortality country with reliable mortality data. Methods We used data on the population and the number of deaths by age, sex and underlying cause of death for 1970–1994. Life expectancy at age 60 and 85 was estimated using standard life-table techniques. The contribution of different ages and causes of death to the change in life expectancy during the 1970s (1970/74– 1980/84) and the 1980s (1980/84–1990/94) w... Mehr ...