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Ageing, Care Need and Quality of Life pp 114–142Cite as

The Effect of Sex, Obesity and Smoking on Health Transitions: A Statistical Meta-analysis

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Abstract

There are several pathways to death: someone may die healthy or the trajectory may go from good health to disability, include recovery and finally lead to death. Sex, obesity and smoking are important risk factors for these health transitions (Armenian et al. 1998, Hardy/Gill 2005, LaCroix et al. 1993). Sex, next to age, is the most important predictor of mortality (Luy 2003). Obesity and smoking are the two most important modifiable, behavioural factors that have a large impact on public health and are a core issue of public health policy. Both factors affect present and future mortality and disability levels and gender and social disparities. Disability largely affects the quality of life and the need for long-term health and social care (Waidmann/Liu 2000).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sociology and Demography, University of Rostock, Germany

    Gabriele Doblhammer

  2. Rostock Center for the Study of Demographic Change, Germany

    Elena Muth

  3. Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Wilma Nusselder

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  1. Gabriele Doblhammer
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  2. Rasmus Hoffmann
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  3. Elena Muth
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  4. Wilma Nusselder
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  1. Institute of Sociology and Demography, University of Rostock, Germany

    Gabriele Doblhammer

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Doblhammer, G., Hoffmann, R., Muth, E., Nusselder, W. (2010). The Effect of Sex, Obesity and Smoking on Health Transitions: A Statistical Meta-analysis. In: Doblhammer, G., Scholz, R. (eds) Ageing, Care Need and Quality of Life. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-531-92335-2_7

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