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This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2008.133900v1 98/7/1167    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Boscoe, F. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Boscoe, F. P. Related Collections Aging Other Chronic Disease Epidemiology Mortality

Francis P. Boscoe, PhD

Francis P. Boscoe is with the New York State Cancer Registry, New York State Department of Health, Albany.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Francis P. Boscoe, PhD, 536 Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237 (e-mail: fpb01{at}health.state.ny.us).

The standard terminal age category in disease reporting in the United States has been 85 years and older since the 1940s, but the dramatically increasing share of the US population reaching this age has rendered the single category inadequate for surveillance, research, and analysis. Important age-specific variations in mortality among the oldest old are masked by the continued use of this category.

Greater specificity in age-specific data for the oldest old would aid in disease surveillance and etiologic research and broaden awareness and understanding of human longevity.