ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the concept of the compression of morbidity and allows an evaluation of the benefits of deferring illness. Improved and extended medical care may prolong life, but, with only a few exceptions, the lives that are prolonged are damaged and the burden of morbidity in the community is increased. The evidence might be of three kinds, direct measures of the deferral of onset of illnesses of special relevance, more global assessments of the total burden of morbidity in a community, or demonstration of improved health. The diseases of special concern include ischemic heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, arthritis and other major causes of disability in older persons. The research declares that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Persons with clinically manifest disease and with high values on some biochemical and physiological variables are excluded and the remainder is declared to be healthy.
