Final answer:
No Older people are more likely to die from chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer than from infectious diseases. Noninfectious diseases are often linked to lifestyle choices and are more prevalent in wealthier nations. Epidemiology shows that these chronic conditions are the leading causes of death in developed countries.
Step-by-step explanation:
No, today older people are more likely to die from chronic diseases such as heart disease or cancer than from infectious diseases like influenza or pneumonia.
While pneumonia is indeed a leading cause of death among the elderly, the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer is higher in developed countries. These conditions are often related to lifestyle choices and can often be prevented with healthy behaviors.
Moreover, noninfectious diseases are sometimes referred to as diseases of affluence, as they have become more prevalent in wealthier nations while infectious diseases continue to significantly impact poorer regions. However, as low- and middle-income countries develop, rates of noninfectious diseases are increasing globally.
By contrast, diseases such as influenza typically cause more severe complications in the very young and the elderly due to their less robust immune systems but are generally not the leading cause of death in developed regions.
Epidemiologically, diseases like cancer and cardiovascular issues are the principal causes of death in higher-income nations, despite infectious disease outbreaks occasionally causing elevated mortality rates.