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Review
. 2011 Jan;66(1):75-86.
doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbq088. Epub 2010 Dec 6.

Mortality and morbidity trends: is there compression of morbidity?

Eileen M Crimmins  1 , Hiram Beltrán-Sánchez
Affiliations
Review

Mortality and morbidity trends: is there compression of morbidity?

Eileen M Crimmins et al. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2011 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: This paper reviews trends in mortality and morbidity to evaluate whether there has been a compression of morbidity.

Methods: Review of recent research and analysis of recent data for the United States relating mortality change to the length of life without 1 of 4 major diseases or loss of mobility functioning.

Results: Mortality declines have slowed down in the United States in recent years, especially for women. The prevalence of disease has increased. Age-specific prevalence of a number of risk factors representing physiological status has stayed relatively constant; where risks decline, increased usage of effective drugs is responsible. Mobility functioning has deteriorated. Length of life with disease and mobility functioning loss has increased between 1998 and 2008.

Discussion: Empirical findings do not support recent compression of morbidity when morbidity is defined as major disease and mobility functioning loss.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Survivors in the life table population, survivors without mobility functioning loss, and survivors without disease by sex: 1998 and 2006. Source: Prevalence of disease and functioning loss from National Health Interview Survey 1998, 2006; life tables from National Center for Health Statistics (1998, 2006).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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