Compression of Morbidity 1980–2011: A Focused Review of Paradigms and Progress

The Compression of Morbidity hypothesis—positing that the age of onset of chronic illness may be postponed more than the age at death and squeezing most of the morbidity in life into a shorter period with less lifetime disability—was introduced by our group in 1980. This paper is focused upon the ev...

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Main Authors: James F. Fries, Bonnie Bruce, Eliza Chakravarty
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Journal of Aging Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/261702
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author James F. Fries
Bonnie Bruce
Eliza Chakravarty
author_facet James F. Fries
Bonnie Bruce
Eliza Chakravarty
author_sort James F. Fries
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description The Compression of Morbidity hypothesis—positing that the age of onset of chronic illness may be postponed more than the age at death and squeezing most of the morbidity in life into a shorter period with less lifetime disability—was introduced by our group in 1980. This paper is focused upon the evolution of the concept, the controversies and responses, the supportive multidisciplinary science, and the evolving lines of evidence that establish proof of concept. We summarize data from 20-year prospective longitudinal studies of lifestyle progression of disability, national population studies of trends in disability, and randomized controlled trials of risk factor reduction with life-style-based “healthy aging” interventions. From the perspective of this influential and broadly cited paradigm, we review its current history, the development of a theoretical structure for healthy aging, and the challenges to develop coherent health policies directed at reduction in morbidity.
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spelling doaj-art-0fcac091679f4762bd83a026e80ff4a82025-08-20T03:54:20ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22122011-01-01201110.4061/2011/261702261702Compression of Morbidity 1980–2011: A Focused Review of Paradigms and ProgressJames F. Fries0Bonnie Bruce1Eliza Chakravarty2Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1000 Welch Road, Suite 203, Stanford, CA 94304, USADepartment of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1000 Welch Road, Suite 203, Stanford, CA 94304, USADepartment of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1000 Welch Road, Suite 203, Stanford, CA 94304, USAThe Compression of Morbidity hypothesis—positing that the age of onset of chronic illness may be postponed more than the age at death and squeezing most of the morbidity in life into a shorter period with less lifetime disability—was introduced by our group in 1980. This paper is focused upon the evolution of the concept, the controversies and responses, the supportive multidisciplinary science, and the evolving lines of evidence that establish proof of concept. We summarize data from 20-year prospective longitudinal studies of lifestyle progression of disability, national population studies of trends in disability, and randomized controlled trials of risk factor reduction with life-style-based “healthy aging” interventions. From the perspective of this influential and broadly cited paradigm, we review its current history, the development of a theoretical structure for healthy aging, and the challenges to develop coherent health policies directed at reduction in morbidity.http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/261702
spellingShingle James F. Fries
Bonnie Bruce
Eliza Chakravarty
Compression of Morbidity 1980–2011: A Focused Review of Paradigms and Progress
Journal of Aging Research
title Compression of Morbidity 1980–2011: A Focused Review of Paradigms and Progress
title_full Compression of Morbidity 1980–2011: A Focused Review of Paradigms and Progress
title_fullStr Compression of Morbidity 1980–2011: A Focused Review of Paradigms and Progress
title_full_unstemmed Compression of Morbidity 1980–2011: A Focused Review of Paradigms and Progress
title_short Compression of Morbidity 1980–2011: A Focused Review of Paradigms and Progress
title_sort compression of morbidity 1980 2011 a focused review of paradigms and progress
url http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/261702
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