The Fourth Stage of the Epidemiologic Transition: the Age of Delayed Degenerative Diseases

Overview

Journal Milbank Q

Specialties Health Services
Public Health

Date 1986 Jan 1

PMID 3762504

Citations 120

Authors

S J Olshansky

A B Ault

Affiliations

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Abstract

Gains in longevity in the United States since the mid-nineteenth century occurred as a result of an epidemiologic transition: deaths from infectious diseases were replaced by deaths from degenerative diseases. Recent trends in cause-specific mortality suggest a distinct new stage, one of postponement of degenerative diseases. Projections based on these data must be applied cautiously; their implication for health and social policies are likely to be profound.

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