Changes in the health status of the population of Central and Eastern European countries between 1990 and 2010

Objective The aim of this study was to analyse change in the health status of the population in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) since 1990, compared with the 'old' EU-15 member states of the European Union (EU). Methods We analysed data from the Health for All Database and the Global Burden of Disease report of the World Health Organization (WHO). Life expectancy at birth and disability-adjusted life years were analysed for 1990-2010. Age-standardised death rates (ASDR) and potential years of life lost (PYLL) were assessed for selected inflammatory diseases. Results Life expectancy at birth for male individuals improved in CEE by 4.8 years and in the EU-15 by 5.4 years. During the same period, life expectancy at birth for female individuals improved in CEE by 4.0 years and in the EU-15 by 4.2 years. The difference in life expectancy at birth between male and female individuals in the EU-15 decreased by 1.2 years and in CEE by 0.8 years. Comparisons of ASDR and PYLL among the EU-15 and CEE countries were difficult because of the potentially low validity of the available data. Conclusions The health status of the CEE population has improved since 1990. However, only a few countries have closed the gap with the EU-15 countries. Inflammatory conditions might represent a significant disease burden in CEE countries; however, a thorough analysis and comparison to the EU-15 is difficult because of a shortage of good-quality data.