title: After the epidemiologic transition: a reassessment of mortality from infectious diseases among over-65s in France and Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess more accurately the contribution of infectious diseases (IDs) to mortality at age 65+.
  
  
  METHODS
  We use cause-of-death data for France and Italy in 2009. In addition to chapter I of the 10th International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), our list of IDs includes numerous diseases classified in other chapters. We compute mortality rates considering all death certificate entries (underlying and contributing causes).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mortality rates at age 65+ based on our extended list are more than three times higher than rates based solely on ICD-10 chapter I. IDs are frequently contributing causes of death. In France, the share of deaths at age 65+ involving an ID as underlying cause increases from 2.1 to 7.3 % with the extended list, and to 20.8 % when contributing causes are also considered. For Italy, these percentages are 1.4, 4.2 and 18.7 %, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Publicly available statistics underestimate the contribution of IDs to the over-65s' mortality. Old age is a risk factor for IDs, and these diseases are more difficult to treat at advanced ages. Health policies should develop targeted actions for that population.
authors.affiliation: Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED), 133 Bd Davout, 75980, Paris Cedex 20, France. alined@ined.fr.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Désesquelles
authors.affiliation: Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED), 133 Bd Davout, 75980, Paris Cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demuru
authors.affiliation: Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED), 133 Bd Davout, 75980, Paris Cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pappagallo
authors.affiliation: Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED), 133 Bd Davout, 75980, Paris Cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frova
authors.affiliation: Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED), 133 Bd Davout, 75980, Paris Cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: France
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meslé
authors.affiliation: Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED), 133 Bd Davout, 75980, Paris Cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Egidi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D003644:Death Certificates; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Aging; Infectious diseases; Mortality; Multiple causes of death; Public health