A study of 106,000 Swedish military recruits, age 16-20, followed an average of 35 years, showed inflammation in the blood at an early age (SED rate ≥ 15) portends early mortality. Recruits with a SED rate higher than 15 had a 36% increased probability of premature death from any cause, a 78% increased risk of death from cancer, a 54% increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, and greater than twice the risk of dying from a heart attack, compared to men with a SED rate ≤ 10.

Inflammation at an early age is an indication of chronic infection at an early age. Chronic immortal pathogens can be silent or have lingering and evolving symptoms, over decades, before becoming a chronic disease. When penicillin is used to treat chlamydia pathogens, penicillin destroys the cell wall but not the immortal pathogen, extends the life cycle of chlamydia, from 30 hours to 72 hours; and causes the reticulate body to change shape, become larger, and make more elementary bodies, which facilitates spread.

Inflammation at an early age led to early death, because inflammation at an early age is an indication of chronic infection at an early age. Chronic infection, persisting over decades, evolves into chronic disease and can lead to earlier mortality, from a variety of chronic diseases.

“Early Inflammation May Portend Early Death – The New York Times”     https://nyti.ms/34V4len