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Are Americans Getting Sicker? An Analysis of Emerging Morbidity Trends

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Applied Demography and Public Health in the 21st Century

Part of the book series: Applied Demography Series ((ADS,volume 8))

Abstract

The improvement in the health status of the U.S. population during the 20th century is well documented. Over that century dramatic reductions were recorded for mortality rates (most notably for infant mortality and maternal mortality ), life expectancy markedly increased, and many killer diseases were eliminated as health threats. Americans became healthier as a result of higher standards of living, expanded public health functions and better diets. By the 1980s, however, observers began noting anomalies in the available data that suggest the trend toward improved health was moderating and the occasional piece of evidence that the trend was actually being reversed. By the dawn of the 21st century a growing body of evidence suggested that, in fact, Americans may be getting sicker. It would certainly be a noteworthy development if this adverse trend could be verified. However, a number of factors make it very difficult to determine if a reversal of America’s health fortunes are taking place. This paper addresses the challenges involved in definitively measuring trends in health status, reviews the evidence for declining health status, and considers the possible conclusions that can be drawn.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Mississippi, University, Oxford, MS, 38677, USA

    Richard K. Thomas

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  1. Richard K. Thomas
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Correspondence to Richard K. Thomas .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hobby Center for Public Policy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA

    M. Nazrul Hoque

  2. Institute for Demographic and and Socioeconomic Research, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA

    Beverly Pecotte

  3. Health Statistics Branch, Center for Public Health Practice, Arkansas Department of Health, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

    Mary A. McGehee

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Thomas, R.K. (2017). Are Americans Getting Sicker? An Analysis of Emerging Morbidity Trends. In: Hoque, M., Pecotte, B., McGehee, M. (eds) Applied Demography and Public Health in the 21st Century. Applied Demography Series, vol 8. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43688-3_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43688-3_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-43686-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-43688-3

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