Compression of Morbidity

The compression of morbidity refers to a theory about associations of health and disease with mortality in older life. Morbidity refers to diseases or symptoms of diseases and, more broadly, to problems with physical, cognitive, or emotional health, including limitations or disabilities that make it difficult to complete routine daily activities. Mortality refers to death. The compression of morbidity theory suggests that patterns of morbidity are changing in ways that can affect most people. The theory refers to postponing morbidity to late in life. If life expectancy remains constant, then postponing morbidity reduces the proportion of life during which the average person experiences morbidity. The theory suggests that, over time, populations in developed countries are experiencing such a compression of morbidity.

It is challenging to assess ...