Morbidity and mortality in an initially healthy elderly sample: findings after five years of follow-up

Abstract

This report summarizes morbidity and mortality data for 263 initially healthy elderly men and women from the beginning of this study through five years of follow-up. The mortality rate for this sample averaged approximately 1.8% per year and the duration of terminal illness averaged 4.9 months. The cancer incidence rate has increased whereas new diagnoses of cardiovascular disease and degenerative conditions have declined. The data support the potential for maximizing vigour and health well into the seventh and eighth decades of life.