Mortalitätskurven

Mortalitätskurven, also known as mortality curves or survival curves, are graphical representations of the probability of death over time for a given population or group. They are widely used in various fields, including medicine, epidemiology, actuarial science, and biology, to illustrate patterns of mortality. A typical mortality curve plots time on the x-axis and the probability of death or mortality rate on the y-axis.

Different shapes of mortality curves indicate distinct patterns of death. For instance, a curve that shows a high mortality rate in infancy and early childhood, followed by a lower rate in adulthood and then an increase in old age, is characteristic of many developing countries or historical populations. This is often referred to as a Type III curve. Conversely, a curve with a low mortality rate throughout most of the lifespan, with a sharp increase only in advanced age, is typical of developed countries with good public health and medical care, often termed a Type I curve. A relatively constant mortality rate across all ages might be represented by a Type II curve.

In medicine, mortality curves, such as Kaplan-Meier curves, are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of treatments or interventions. They compare the survival rates of different patient groups, helping researchers and clinicians understand the impact of a specific therapy on patient outcomes. Actuaries use mortality curves to calculate life insurance premiums and pension liabilities, by predicting the likelihood of individuals surviving to certain ages. These curves are statistical tools that provide valuable insights into the dynamics of mortality within populations.