한국인(韓國人)의 주요사인(主要死因) 제거정도(除去程度)와 평균수명(平均壽命)에 관한 연구(硏究) = The Study on Potential Gain in Life Expectancy of the Korean as the Degree of Reduction in Leading Causes of Death

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study was conducted to examine potential gains in life expectancies when the three leading causes of death were partially or totally eliminated, based on the mortality situation during 1978-79 in Korea. It sought to ascertain what potential gains in longevity might be reasonably achieved through efforts to reduce mortality due to accidents and adverse effects, diseases of circulatory system and malignant neoplasms. In addition to the study seeks to determine how much of these potential gains can be expected during the total life span. The impressive gains theoretically achieved by total elimination do not hold up under the more realistic assumption of partial elimination or reduction.
1. Elimination of selected risks of death
The potential gains in life expectancy at birth by the complete elimination are 4.27 years in male population and 4.34 years in female population. If it were possible to eliminate accidents and adverse effects as a cause of death the average length of life at birth would be increased by 2.16 years in male population and 1.40 years in female population according to mortality condition during 1978-79. The human life wasted by malignant neoplasms is estimated to be 1.89 years at ago 0 in male population and 1.72 years in female population.
2. Reduction in selected risk of death
The life expectancy of a new-born child by 30 percent reduction in selected risks of death in male and female population respectively would be increased 1.09 years and 1.14 years in diseases of circulatory system, 0.63 years and 0.42 years for accidents and adverse effects, and 0.53 years and 0.50 years for malignant neoplasms.
When the mortality rate for the causes of death being eliminated is relatively small, the increase in expectation of life is approximately a linear function of the proportion eliminated.
In spite of the known limitation of multiple-decrement life table analysis the findings from this study have implications for practical decision making in setting up health goals, allocating resources and evaluating health programs.