Six prefectures in the Tokyo metropolitan area, i.e., Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Gunma and Ibaragi, differing in the extent of urbanization and gerontization, were selected and changes in 16 health indicators between 1945 and 196'5 in these prefectures were examined. Those indicators showing clear changes in these years and corresponding with urbanization were gross mortality rate, infant mortality rate, death rate from gastritis and enteritis, and from nephritis and nephrosis. Those ralated to gerontization were PMI, and deaths caused by vascular lesions, and by malignant neoplasms. Considering all three studies together, we can conclude that the infant mortality rate best represents urbanization, and PMI is the best index of gerontization. These two indices also closely correspond with chronological changes in LSL in the post-world War II period.
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