Changing causes of death of elderly people in the United States, 1950-1990.
BACKGROUND
Causes of death have changed greatly in the United States during the 20th century.


OBJECTIVE
To detail these changes in elderly people during 1950-1990.


METHODS
The source of data was 'Vital Statistics of the United States' for the years discussed. Mortality rates for several causes were calculated for the 85-89 age group, and the percentage of deaths attributed to several causes was calculated.


RESULTS
There are large peaks about 1970 in both the mortality rate of ischemic heart disease and the percentage of total deaths attributed to this cause. The peaks have been followed by declines. Death rates from cancer and the percent of deaths attributed to cancer have increased during 1950-1990.


CONCLUSIONS
The above changes coincide with major changes in medical science and care, the identification of the risk factors predisposing to ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases, and the implementation of Medicare, a program of health care benefits to all people 65 and over that is supported by the United States government.
Smith
D W
DW
Department of Pathology and Buehler Center on Aging, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill., USA. d-smith@nwu.edu
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000401:mortality; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D014481:United States