Abstract
This chapter sets out information on the demographic changes that have occurred this century in England and Wales, with particular emphasis on aspects related to the elderly. It then considers what is known about the major diseases killing the elderly and trends in these diseases, and reviews other statistics on the health problems of the elderly. The scope is restricted to routine statistics; data are available on mortality from all causes, cancer trends (incidence and survival as well as mortality), diagnoses for hospital in-patients, sample material from three periodic studies on contact in primary medical care, and annual surveys on the general level of disability in the population. Consideration is given to the facilities and support that are utilised in caring for the elderly, and an attempt is made to identify the proportion of the population by age and sex receiving care from the main agencies. Limited material is also available on selected facets of ‘behaviour’: diet, alcohol consumption and smoking. Consideration of these issues is relevant to the health of the general population and health of the elderly. The final section discusses projections of the elderly population over the coming forty years in the United Kingdom and considers the possible degree of handicap in these elderly.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Acheson, R. M. and Williams, D. D. R. (1983). Does consumption of fruit and vegetables protect against stroke? Lancet, i, 1911
Alderson, M. R. (1983). An Introduction to Epidemiology, 2nd edn. Macmillan, London
Alderson, M. R. and Ashwood, F. (1985). Projection of mortality rates for the elderly. Pop. Trends, 42, 22
Cancer Research Campaign (1982). Trends in Cancer Survival in Great Britain: Registrations 1960–74. Cancer Research Campaign, London
Central Statistical Office (1987). Annual Abstract of Statistics 1987. HMSO, London
Department of Health and Social Security (1984). The Facilities and Services of the Mental Illness and Mental Handicap Hospitals in England 1980–81. HMSO, London
Department of Health and Social Security, Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, and Welsh Office (1984). Hospital In-patient Enquiry, main tables, 1982, England. Series MB4, No. 21. HMSO, London
Harris, A. I., Cox, E. and Smith, C. R. W. (1971). Handicapped and Impaired in Great Britain. HMSO, London
Lee, P. N. (1976). Statistics of Smoking in the UK, 7th edn. Tobacco Research Council, London
Logan, W. P. D. and Cushion, A. A. (1958). Morbidity Statistics from General Practice, Vol. 1: General. HMSO, London
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1984). Household Food Consumption and Expenditure: 1982 (Annual Report of the National Food Survey Committee). HMSO, London
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (1985a). Mortality Statistics: Serial Tables 1841–1980, England and Wales. DHI, No. 15. HMSO, London
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (1985b). Mortality Statistics: Cause, England and Wales, 1984. DH2, No. 11. HMSO, London
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (1985c). General Household Survey 1983. HMSO, London
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (1986). Mortality Statistics, England and Wales, 1984. DH1, No. 16. HMSO, London
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (1987). Mortality Statistics: Cause, England and Wales, 1985. DH2, No. 12. HMSO, London
Registrar General (1914). Supplement to the 75th Annual Report of the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages in England and Wales, 1901–10. HMSO, London
Royal College of General Practitioners, Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, and Department of Health and Social Security (1974). Morbidity Statistics from General Practice 1970–71 (Second National Study). SMPS 26. HMSO, London
Royal College of General Practitioners, Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, and Department of Health and Social Security (1986). Morbidity Statistics from General Practice (Third National Study 1981–82). HMSO, London
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1988 The Editors and the Contributors
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Alderson, M. (1988). Demographic and Health Trends in the Elderly. In: Wells, N., Freer, C. (eds) The Ageing Population. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-19093-5_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-19093-5_6
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-45313-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-19093-5
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social & Cultural Studies CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)