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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 May 1.
Published in final edited form as: Trends Genet. 2017 Mar 30;33(5):303–321. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2017.03.002

Figure 1. The downsides of increased life expectancy: an aged population suffering from multiple chronic diseases and increased economic burden.

Figure 1

A) Increase in lifespan expectancy in the world from 1950 to 2015 and projected increase from 2015 to 2050. This increase is followed by an increase in the percentage of population aged >65, representing 8% and is predicted to represent up to 22% of the world population by 2050. B) Proportional increase in people >65 year old suffering from 2 or more chronic diseases as population ages. This comorbidity will cause a subsequent increase in the overall health care expenses (data extrapolated from expenses measured in 2015). (Sources: United Nations World Population Prospects 2015, AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2005, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services 2012 Edition)