The Compression of Morbidity: Near or Far?
研究了发病率压缩的可能性，即缩短从发病到死亡的时间以减轻疾病负担，发现部分慢性病发病推迟、女性预期寿命增长放缓，且预防措施对发病率影响大于死亡率，支持当前存在一定程度的发病率压缩。
Compressing the period of infirmity into an ever-shorter period between the onset of morbidity and death might reduce the nation's illness burden; for this to occur, age-specific incidence of morbid states must decrease more rapidly than age-specific mortality rates. Recent data demonstrate that the onset of some major chronic illnesses is now being postponed and that increases in females' life expectancy have slowed. Large randomized controlled trials have shown an impact of primary prevention on morbidity exceeding that on mortality. These and other trends provide evidence for some degree of current compression of morbidity and suggest types of public health strategies required for further progress, including successful aging programs.