Gompertz - A program for evaluation and comparison of survival curves

Principles, properties and use of a program for evaluation of survival curv es are described. Parameters of Gompertzian mortality curves are computed f rom survival data of two populations by help of nonlinear regression. The d ifferences in parameters of both curves are evaluated statistically. This m ethod evaluates effectively even survival data of very small populations. T he results are presented in numeric, verbal and graphic forms. Finally, rea ding of the results is offered to distinguish changes corresponding to alte red aging rate from changes caused by influences not affecting the basic me chanism of aging. Program GOMPERTZ in the form of Microsoft Excel workbook equipped with Visual Basic procedures is offered free through e-mail (kleme ra@faf.cuni.cz).