Articles: mortality.
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Biodemography Soc Biol · Jan 2008
The shape of inequality: racial disparities in age-specific mortality.
There are significant mortality disparities across racial and socioeconomic (SES) groups. Although the mechanisms behind these disparities remain vague, there is a clear connection between the mortality disparities across racial and SES groups. It is less clear, though, if the relationship between SES and racial mortality disparities varies across the life course. ⋯ These results suggest that if we standardize mortality rates for age-variation in the SES-mortality relationship, then the age-pattern of racial mortality disparities will be attenuated. Using data from the National Longitudinal Mortality Study, I analyze the relationship between SES and racial disparities in age-specific mortality among adults aged 25 and over. The results suggest that racial differences in SES are most important early in the adult life, and are minimally related to the convergence in racial mortality disparities at the oldest ages.
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This report presents period life tables for the United States based on age-specific death rates in 2004. Data used to prepare these life tables are 2004 final mortality statistics; July 1, 2004, population estimates based on the 2000 decennial census and data from the Medicare program. Presented are complete life tables by age, race, and sex. ⋯ Both males and females in each race group experienced increases in life expectancy between 2003 and 2004. The greatest increase was experienced by black males with an increase of 0.6 year (from 68.9 to 69.5). Life expectancy increased by 0.4 year for black females (from 75.9 to 76.3), for white females (from 80.4 to 80.8), and for white males (from 75.3 to 75.7).
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Although levels of physical activity and aerobic capacity decline with age and the prevalence of obesity tends to increase with age, the independent and joint associations among fitness, adiposity, and mortality in older adults have not been adequately examined. ⋯ In this study population, fitness was a significant mortality predictor in older adults, independent of overall or abdominal adiposity. Clinicians should consider the importance of preserving functional capacity by recommending regular physical activity for older individuals, normal-weight and overweight alike.
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Hypertension and smoking are major risk factors for death due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). These attributions for CVD mortality should be higher in the countries where obesity-related conditions are uncommon. However, the joint effect of these risk factors on CVD and all-cause mortality have not been described. ⋯ The PAF of CVD mortality was higher in participants <60 years of age (57.4% for men and 40.7% for women) vs. those who were older (26.3% for men and 18.1% for women). Aggressive attempts to discourage smoking and to curb HT could yield large health benefits in Japan and throughout Asia, particularly for those aged <60 years. Efforts to warn about the adverse consequence of HT and smoking during adolescence and youth could yield the greatest health benefits, since positive behaviors adopted early are more easily continued into middle adulthood and later life.