The Fund supports networks of state health policy decision makers to help identify, inspire, and inform policy leaders.
The Milbank Memorial Fund supports two state leadership programs for legislative and executive branch state government officials committed to improving population health.
The Fund identifies and shares policy ideas and analysis to advance state health leadership, strong primary care, and sustainable health care costs.
Keep up with news and updates from the Milbank Memorial Fund. And read the latest blogs from our thought leaders, including Fund President Christopher F. Koller.
The Fund publishes The Milbank Quarterly, as well as reports, issues briefs, and case studies on topics important to health policy leaders.
The Milbank Memorial Fund is is a foundation that works to improve population health and health equity.
June 1989 (Volume 67)
Quarterly Article
James F. Fries
Nov 5, 2024
Oct 30, 2024
Oct 23, 2024
Back to The Milbank Quarterly
Compressing the period of infirmity into an ever-shorter period between the onset of morbidity and death might reduce the nation’s illness burden; for this to occur, age-specific incidence of morbid states must decrease more rapidly than age-specific mortality rates. Recent data demonstrate that the onset of some major chronic illnesses is now being postponed and that increases in females’ life expectancy have slowed. Large randomized controlled trials have shown an impact of primary prevention on morbidity exceeding that on mortality. These and other trends provide evidence for some degree of current compression of morbidity and suggest types of public health strategies required for further progress, including successful aging programs.
Author(s): James F. Fries
Download the Article
Read on JSTOR
Volume 67, Issue 2 (pages 208–232) Published in 1989
