NU Online News Service, Nov. 7, 2003, 5:59 p.m. EST – Will mortality continue to improve?
That’s a tough call, according to Tracy Choka, director of applied research and development at Swiss Re Life & Health America, Stamford, Conn., which recently held a conference that focused on the topic.
“As an industry, we have got to really watch it,” Choka argues.
The positive trends that Choka cites include improvements in cardiovascular health, the availability of more genetic information and the decline in smoking.
The 1975-80 mortality tables assume a 30% prevalence for smoking. Smoking prevalence has dropped to 8% to 10% in the 1990-95 table.