Over the past decades, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have experienced substantial declines in infant and child mortality, albeit at different levels and paces. In contrast, survival improvements at adult ages emerged more recently and are likely to become an important component of future mortality changes. While these developments partly reflect the classical epidemiologic transition, a growing body of empirical evidence points to important deviations from this framework. In particular, many LMICs are experiencing a complex mortality landscape among young and older adults that are characterized by the coexistence of infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and external causes of death.
The goal of this panel is to explore emerging patterns of adult mortality in LMICs, focusing on examining levels, age patterns, and the social and environmental determinants of mortality among young and older adults across LMICs.