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Morbidity refers to some kind of disease or illness, which may include acute illness (that have a sudden onset and either improve or deteriorate rapidly) and chronic illness (symptoms and process of which can be slow and gradual over time). On the other hand, Mortality means the condition of being dead. Mortality is usually defined as the total number of deaths over a period of time in a population, either generally or according to a specific cause. In addition, both the terms Morbidity and mortality can be used to describe an individual or population.
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Key Takeaways: Morbidity, Morality, Mortality rate, Morbidity rate, Acute diseases, Chronic diseases, Disease
What is Morbidity?
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The term morbidity describes the condition of being ill or having ill health, as well as the amount of disease present within a population. It may also refer to medical problems caused by treatment. The morbidity rate is an estimation of how many people in a specific community in a particular geographical location, during a specific time period, contracted a particular disease. An individual's morbidity describes the risk of being afflicted with a debilitating condition that impacts their ability to function independently.
Prevalence and incidence are the two components of morbidity rates. Prevalence refers to the percentage of the population that is affected by a disease and while on the other hand incidence refers to the rate at which an individual becomes infected. Physicians, scientists, and other healthcare professionals can use this rate to determine the prevalence of significant diseases in an area and to monitor new illnesses. There can be either acute diseases or chronic diseases.
What is Mortality?
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In epidemiology, mortality generally refers to the number of deaths caused by a specific event or illness over a particular period. Researchers often speak about mortality rates, which measure the number of deaths relative to the number of people in a larger group. “150 deaths per 100,000 people per year” might be the result of an illness. As a result, there are different mortality rates. Infant mortality rate, for example, is a measure of the number of children who died before their first birthday. Also, there is a mortality rate based on age and mental mortality rate.
In order to determine the most common causes of death in an area, data scientists use different mortality rates. A variety of social factors may contribute to it, including disease, poor health and other circumstances. To make an informed decision regarding healthcare in a city or country, it is, therefore, necessary to study morbidity and mortality statistics together.
Difference between Morbidity and Mortality
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| Morbidity | Mortality |
|---|---|
| State of being unhealthy or ill | State of being mortal or death |
| The cause of the illness may be due to acute or chronic disease | Causes of death can be several |
| The morbidity rate measures the number of people who suffer from a particular disease | Death rate or mortality rate is the number of deaths per 1000 people |
| Morbidity is based on the type of disease, gender, age, etc. | Mortality is based on the crude death rates, the child mortality rate, maternal mortality etc |
Things to Remember
- Morbidity and Mortality don't mean the same thing.
- Morbidity refers to any condition which is unhealthy on the other hand.
- Mortality in human beings means death.
- There may be no connection between having more than one morbidity and raising your mortality risk unless they deteriorate over time.
- By following healthy lifestyle habits and getting regular health screenings, you may be able to prevent some morbidities.
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Sample Questions
Ques. What is mortality? (3 marks)
Ans. Accordingly, mortality refers to the rate of deaths associated with a specific illness. When expressing mortality, the term "mortality rate" is used. A death rate can be calculated by dividing the number of people who died from an illness by the total population at that time. In much the same way as morbidity rates, mortality rates are often expressed in terms of numbers of people, typically as "per 100,000 people." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 2,854,838, or 869.7 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2019.
Ques. What does morbidity mean? (4 marks)
Ans. A health condition is considered morbid if it is physically or mentally unwell. Long-term or age-related diseases are often referred to as chronic diseases. Heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer are some of the most prevalent morbidities. Some examples of common morbidities include:
- diabetes
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- heart disease
- obesity
- lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
- stroke
- chronic kidney disease
- infections, such as the flu, COVID-19, and HIV
- cancer
- Alzheimer’s disease
- mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression
Ques. What is Comorbidity? (2 marks)
Ans. Multiple diseases occur simultaneously along with an individual's primary health condition to form a condition known as comorbidity. The individual is also affected by other conditions regardless of the primary condition. Hence, it is a combination of numerous illnesses or disorders in a person. As far as mental disorders are concerned, anxiety and depression may coexist. Recent studies have shown that in response to injury, high levels of social support may reduce devastation and feelings of disillusionment, which are often associated with isolation.
Ques. Can one person have more than one morbidity at a time? (2 marks)
Ans. By now you have come across a related term to morbidity. It is called comorbidity. It states that you can have more than one illness at the same time. It is possible to encounter more or fewer comorbidities depending on the condition. As an example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports several comorbid conditions, including obesity and heart disease, are often associated with arthritis. In a healthcare setting, determining whether a patient has comorbidities is crucial.
Ques. What is the difference Between morbidity and mortality? (3 marks)
Ans. Mortality and Morbidity are related, but they don't have the same meaning. When you have a specific disorder or illness, you are said to have morbidity. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity are examples of common morbidities. Multiple morbidities are possible. These conditions are known as comorbidities. The number of deaths attributed to a specific illness or condition is called the mortality rate. Heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries are the leading causes of death in the United States. In other words, morbidity rate is the percentage of people who contract a disease in a given year. In contrast, mortality rate refers to the number of deaths per 1000 people.
Ques. What are the causes of acute and chronic diseases with examples? (5 marks)
Ans. Conditions that are acute in nature are often caused by viruses, infections, and accidental injuries, but can also stem from misuse of medications or drugs.
A chronic condition is often caused by unhealthy behavior, including poor nutrition, insufficient physical activity, or excessive alcohol consumption. There are also genetic, social, emotional, environmental, and biological influences. It is more likely for someone as they grow older to develop a chronic condition. Examples such as -
Acute medical conditions
- Asthma attack
- Broken bone
- Bronchitis
- Burn
Chronic medical conditions
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Arthritis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Depression
Ques. How do you measure morbidity and mortality? (2 marks)
Ans. Affected individuals are divided by the total number of people in a certain population to calculate the per capita rate. Ratios or percentages are commonly used to calculate it. Meanwhile, incidence indicates how often individuals within a population develop a particular symptom or quality. In its simplest form, it is calculated by subtracting the number of NEW cases from the number of population members in a particular time period. To calculate this number, it is essential to subtract the number of people already affected from the total number of people within the population.
Ques. Discuss about child morbidity and mortality rate. (2 marks)
Ans. For kids under the age of four, acute respiratory illness is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality. The condition includes effects such as viral or bacterial pneumonia of the lungs and respiratory tracts. Child mortality refers to children under the age of five who are mortal. There are many risk factors that can cause it. There has been a reduction in child mortality from 57 to 41 per thousand live births, and there has been a higher reduction in under-5-mortality from 74 to 50 per thousand live births. Among the states with the highest IMR, Uttar Pradesh has a rate of 64 per 1000 live births
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