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Anesthesiologists are living longer: mortality experience 1992 to 2001

Jonathan D Katz1, Martin D Slade

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Jonathan.Katz@yale.edu

Journal of Clinical Anesthesia
|September 19, 2006
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mortality among American anesthesiologists has improved, with a higher average age at death and a lower death rate observed between 1992 and 2001. These positive trends in anesthesiologist mortality were also seen in obstetricians.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Science
  • Public Health
  • Anesthesiology

Background:

  • The mortality experience of medical professionals is crucial for understanding workforce health.
  • Previous studies have indicated varying mortality trends among different medical specialties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess recent changes in the mortality patterns of American anesthesiologists.
  • To compare these changes with a control group of obstetricians.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of obituary data from the American Medical Association's Physician Master File (PMF).
  • Examined 1525 anesthesiologist and 2773 obstetrician obituaries from 1992 to 2001.
  • Calculated mean age at death and age-adjusted death rates.

Main Results:

  • Anesthesiologists showed a significant increase in average age at death, from 65.3 years in 1992 to 78.1 years in 2001 (P < 0.005).
  • The age-adjusted death rate for anesthesiologists decreased significantly from 4.3 to 2.3 deaths per thousand during the study period.
  • Similar positive mortality trends were observed in the obstetrician control group.

Conclusions:

  • American anesthesiologists experienced a significant increase in average age at death between 1992 and 2001.
  • The risk of death among anesthesiologists decreased notably during this period.
  • These improvements in mortality trends were mirrored in the obstetrician population.

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