Preface.
One of the great achievements of the twentieth century was a dramatic increase in life expectancy. In fact, during the period of 1900/1902 to 2011, life expectancy increased from 48 to 76 years in white males and from 51 to 81 years for white females in developed countries such as the USA, whereas the total deaths per 1,000 population decreased from 17.2 to 8.0 during the same period (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005140.html). Although this may tell us that we are on the road to immortality, the resulting economic impact on society of this rise in life expectancy can not be underestimated, not only for the increased government spending in the time of pension, but also for the alarming rise in cost and, consequently, increased spending on health care.
Editor-in-Chief.
Alfredo
A
Ulloa-Aguirre
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged