The longevity and causes of death of jazz musicians, 1990-1999

The aim of the study was to determine the longevity of jazz musicians (JM) and their mortality patterns. The obituaries of subjects involved in jazz m usic were reviewed in a specialized periodical from 1990 to 1999. Age at de ath, sex, activity (JM or non-musicians[NM]), and estimation of life expect ancy (LE) at birth were recorded. Causes of death were compared with a dist ribution based on the general U.S. population, and proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) were calculated. The study population consisted of 346 decede nts. The age at death was lower in JM than in NM (70.4 +/- 12.4 vs. 74.7 +/ - 10.4 years, p = 0.01), and 83.2% of JM exceeded their LE vs. 93.3% of NM ( = 0.046). Information on the causes of death was available for 212 decede nts. Malignant neoplasms were the leading cause of death in JM. The PMRs we re elevated for malignant neoplasms and suicide. The longevity of JM is low er than that of nonmusical decedents involved in jazz music; however, death before predicted LE is uncommon. Based on this review, malignant neoplasms are the main cause of death in that socioprofessional category.