[Trends in modern international gerontological research. Epidemiological aspects].

Using the methods of comparing statistical data from the population in different countries on should have in mind that the age distribution could differ very much according to her biological and social structure. As example serves the system of social indicators applied by several supranational bodies in order to develop an instrument for measure the "quality of life". Life expectancy and and disability rates in different age groups are among those methods. National statistics do not use only mortability rates and to some extend also morbidity rates but also scaled values about the amount of activities in daily living. Sociomedical figures like the number of restricted-activity, bed-disability, school-loss, and workloss days per person per year seem to give more appropriate data for this purpose than the biomedical counts of the past. On would recognize--at least in the angloamerican countries--that there is a newer trend to find indicators for epidemiological studies and statistics applicable by non-medical personnel as disability components for an index of health in age.