Epidemiological transition

The epidemiological transition refers to changes in the epidemiology as a result of social development.

The epidemiological transition describes the change in frequency of diseases and causes of death in a given society in comparison to the story. For example, since the end of the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century, a change in the frequency of certain diseases or causes of death within large population groups in modern states observed. Characterized this is "change the morbidity structure " ( Siegrist, Johannes ) by replacing infectious diseases as the leading cause of death from chronic degenerative diseases. Consequently, one can divide these changes into three phases:

The age of pestilence and famine (18th century - mid 19th century), characterized by large epidemics or pandemics and infectious diseases as the leading cause of death. (Phase 1)

The age of receding pandemics (mid-19th century - early 20th century), characterized by the decrease in the frequency of infectious diseases as the leading cause of death. (Phase 2)

The age of degenerative and socially -related diseases, characterized by cardiovascular diseases or among others Accidents as a leading cause of death. (Phase 3)

The key results of this development are mainly characterized by the increase in average life expectancy of individuals observed groups or societies. The epidemiological transition is a constantly observing process, since this same change in the average life expectancy in turn is followed by a change in the population structure ( in terms of age ) and as a consequence the result is a change in disease patterns. One can observe that these changes are closely related to structural changes in society. Major changes with respect to the average life expectancy always draw off after profound sociological and economic changes, such as they were, for example, by and watch while the industrialization, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution in 1785 in England. However, the epidemiological transition is not an irreversible process, which is characterized only by growth for average life expectancy. Exemplary of a counterpart of the current situation in the modern states are the former Eastern Bloc countries, such as Ukraine, in the last few years, the cholera occurs sporadically again.

• Epidemiology