A Comparison of Educational Differences on Physical Health, Mortality, and Healthy Life Expectancy in Japan and the United States

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the educational gradient of health and mortality between two long-lived populations: Japan and the United States. Method: This analysis is based on the Nihon University Japanese Longitudinal Study of Aging and the Health and Retirement Study to compare educational gradients in multiple aspects of population health—life expectancy with/without disability, functional limitations, or chronic diseases, using prevalence-based Sullivan life tables. Results: Our results show that education coefficients from physical health and mortality models are similar for both Japan and American populations, and older Japanese have better mortality and health profiles. Discussion: Japan’s compulsory national health service system since April 1961 and living arrangements with adult children may play an important role for its superior health profile compared with that of the United States.