What age thresholds are used in the YPLL measure?

• A. 60 or 70
• B. 65 or 75
• C. 70 or 80
• D. 55 or 65

Answer: (B)

YPLL measures premature mortality by counting the years a person would have lived if they had reached a chosen cutoff age. The cutoff acts as the benchmark for “expected” lifespan. For each death occurring before that cutoff, you add the difference between the cutoff age and the person’s age at death; deaths at or beyond the cutoff contribute nothing. This makes younger deaths count more, highlighting how many potential years of life are lost.

The standard cutoff ages commonly used are 65 and 75, which is why those thresholds are the right reference points. If someone dies at 50, they would contribute 15 years with a 65 cutoff or 25 years with a 75 cutoff. If someone dies at 80, they contribute zero under either threshold. Different studies may use other cutoffs, but 65 and 75 are the typical values you’ll encounter.