Causes of Ill Health among a Random Sample of Old and Very Old People: Possibilities for Prevention

comes, or more accurate targeting of services may all have a role in the prevention of handicap [1]. Such prevention relies heavily on an understanding of the causes of disease derived from studies of people of working age [2-4], It is likely that relationships between risk factors and disease will alter amongst the old and very old. It is essential that the associations between potentially alterable risk factors and disease occurrence are measured before attempts are made to reduce handicap. This will help decide what potential benefits (if any) might be produced by specific activities and may indicate