Definition - What does Morbidity mean?
Morbidity may be used to refer to an individual having a disease, symptoms of a disease, or the rate of a particular disease within a population. A disease with a high morbidity rate is one that spreads throughout a population. Although this term is also used to describe someone with a gloomy personality, a person who is unhealthy may be referred to as morbid. For instance, a person who suffers from two related illness is said to have comorbid conditions. Morbidity, as a medical term, is not a statement on chance of death.
SureHire explains Morbidity
When referencing an individual, the term high morbidity may be used to describe someone who has several chronic diseases or is otherwise unhealthy. Appropriate preventative healthcare and treatment for disease can help reduce an individual's morbidity rate. The same is true for population morbidity rates. Often, the morbidity rates for specific diseases or conditions can be used to assess the quality of healthcare provided to a specific demographic group or within a selected geographic region. Morbidity rates within specific demographics are also used to help set health and life insurance premiums.
