Morbidity

To a physician, the word morbidity refers specifically to the presence of disease, though more colloquial interpretations have come to mean “gruesome” or sometimes “repelling.” Morbid obesity is a condition where a patient' weight is so great that it is considered to carry a greatly increased risk of medical complications, possibly leading to death. Comorbidity is a cluster of conditions that seem related, for instance, the presence of heart disease is frequently accompanied by other medical conditions such as stroke, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. Alcoholics and the morbidly obese are often clinically depressed, and substance abuse often accompanies other mental disorders. In such a case, one condition may or may not be caused by or be dependent on the other. In the United States, state and local governments, often acting in concert with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), collect statistics on morbidity and mortality. The NIH coordinates the collection and dissemination of such data, and changes in public policy often result. For instance, statistics on morbidity among pregnant women, the presence of HIV in segments of the general population, and the prevalence of West Nile virus have all led to the allocation or reallocation of health care resources. Recommendations regarding pediatric immunization, diet, and vaccination when traveling to foreign countries are a direct result of morbidity statistics. Federal law requiring the printing of health warnings on cigarette packages and those regulating the sale of tobacco and alcohol products are influenced by the known or suspected morbidity related to the use of such substances.