Recent Trends in Mortality Analysis.

In this book the authors present a series of demographic models designed to investigate the effects of morbidity and mortality processes on human populations. The models are designed to be biologically realistic and to be consistent with both macro- and micro-level changes. An overview of trends in mortality analysis is first presented and the quality of available data is assessed with a geographic focus on the United States. Next empirical methods for examining the information content of multiple-cause mortality data are considered and a conceptual framework for mortality analysis is developed. A chapter is included on life table methods for the analysis of underlying and multiple-cause mortality data. The use of life tables with heterogeneous populations is also considered with examples involving cohort versus period life table computations and the black-white mortality crossover. Chapters are also included on ecological models of cause-specific mortality differentials and on projections and estimates of the national state of health using disease-specific compartment models of mortality time series. (EXCERPT)