[New trends in mortality and life expectancy: epidemiologic transition in Hungary?].
In 2001 there were 18,000 fewer deaths than in 1993. In eight years, the annual number of deaths decreased by 12 per cent, the death rate by 10 per cent, and life expectancy at birth increased by 3.3 years. The chronic epidemiologic crisis came to an end, and the long process of closing the gap in life expectancy at birth between Hungary and the European Union started in the mid 1990s. There is still a long way to go, however, before the country reaches EU levels in terms of life expectancy at birth. The most important phenomenon of the favourable turn in mortality and life expectancies has been the decline in the death rate due to cardiovascular diseases. Health promotion and preventive and curative medicine have contributed to the improving epidemiological situation, but the decisive factor in the lower death rates and consequently longer life expectancies at different ages, including old age, has been the change in the socio-economic and political system. Hungary appears to be at the beginning of the fourth stage of epidemiologic transition, i.e. having left the stage of chronic noninfectious diseases, it has entered the stage of delayed chronic noninfectious diseases.
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Központi Statisztikai Hivatal, Budapest.
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D005062:European Union / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008017:Life Expectancy / Q000639:trends*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D017678:Sex Distribution