Cause-specific mortality, life expectancy, and debilitation in aging polynesians.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Demography

Background:

• Life expectancy in American Samoa increased substantially between 1950-1980.
• Significant gains were observed particularly for women and individuals over 65.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the health status of aging American Samoans in relation to increased longevity.
• To examine cause-specific mortality trends and their impact on older populations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized cause-specific mortality data from American Samoa (1950-1979).
• Calculated multiple decrement life tables by decade for both sexes.
• Analyzed changes in probability of death and remaining life expectancy for specific causes (pneumonia/influenza, infections, cancer, cardiovascular disease) after birth and age 45.

Main Results:

• Trends for pneumonia/influenza and infections suggest increased cohort resistance, not prolonged survival of debilitated individuals.
• Individuals dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer did not experience longer survival compared to earlier decades.
• No evidence indicates increased debilitation due to longer survival of the chronically ill.

Conclusions:

• Increased longevity in American Samoa is not solely attributable to improved survival of those with chronic conditions.
• Findings suggest potential improvements in resistance to infectious diseases among later cohorts.
• The role of medical care in these observed trends remains unclear.