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Cited by 312Aging, Health, and DisabilityChronic Disease Management StrategiesAging and Gerontology Research

Compression of morbidity 1980–2011: a focused review of paradigms and progress

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Fries, James F., Bruce, Bonnie, Chakravarty, Eliza·2011·Journal of Aging Research
DOI 10.4061/2011/261702PMC PMC3163136
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Abstract

The Compression of Morbidity hypothesis—positing that the age of onset of chronic illness may be postponed more than the age at death and squeezing most of the morbidity in life into a shorter period with less lifetime disability—was introduced by our group in 1980. This paper is focused upon the evolution of the concept, the controversies and responses, the supportive multidisciplinary science, and the evolving lines of evidence that establish proof of concept. We summarize data from 20-year prospective longitudinal studies of lifestyle progression of disability, national population studies of trends in disability, and randomized controlled trials of risk factor reduction with life-style-based “healthy aging” interventions. From the perspective of this influential and broadly cited paradigm, we review its current history, the development of a theoretical structure for healthy aging, and the challenges to develop coherent health policies directed at reduction in morbidity.

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  • Rowe and Kahn's model of Successful Aging 2.0 strongly hinges on the idea of compression of morbidity.

    “Rowe and Kahn’s model of Successful Aging 2.0 as outlined above strongly hinges on the idea of compression of morbidity.”

    From Toward a More Comprehensive Concept of Successful Aging: Disability and Care Needs: Table 1. (2016) · cites this paper as Fries, Bruce, & Chakravarty, 2011

    The Closing Comments describe compression of morbidity as a necessary precedent for healthier aging, supporting a general connection between the concepts. The Introduction cites Rowe and Kahn’s work, but no passage establishes that their Successful Aging 2.0 model specifically hinges on compression of morbidity. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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Research works printed but not linked: 47

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Fries, J. F., Bruce, B., & Chakravarty, E.
Affiliations
Stanford Medicine (US)
Corresponding author
Fries, James F.
ORCID
Bruce, Bonnie
Venue
Journal of Aging Research
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2011
Volume
2011
Pages
1-10
ISSN
  • 2090-2204 (ISSN-L)
  • 2090-2212
DOI
10.4061/2011/261702
PMC
PMC3163136
OpenAlex
W2045451100
Cited by
312
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 10
FWCI
14.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Aging Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Chronic Disease Management Strategies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Keywords
compression of morbidity, healthy aging, chronic disease onset, disability progression, lifestyle intervention, risk factor reduction, health policy, disability trends

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