Global mortality trends and patterns in older women

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Global population growth and aging are increasing the number and proportion of women over 50.
• Understanding mortality patterns in this demographic is crucial for public health planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze mortality patterns among women aged 50 and older.
• To project future trends in causes of death for this age group.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of national death record data.
• Utilized World Health Organization estimates for life expectancy and causes of death.
• Employed trend projections for mortality by cause in older populations.

Main Results:

• Cardiovascular diseases and cancers are the primary causes of death for older women globally.
• Declining mortality from cardiovascular and cancer diseases has improved life expectancy at age 50 in countries with robust data.
• Despite declining rates, the absolute number of deaths among older women is expected to increase due to population aging.

Conclusions:

• Noncommunicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases and cancers, will constitute a larger proportion of deaths among women in low- and middle-income countries.
• Population aging and reduced maternal/child mortality contribute to this shift.
• Health systems need to adapt, potentially by adopting strategies from high-income countries that have successfully reduced noncommunicable disease mortality.