What does the term 'mortality' refer to in a medical context?

In a medical context, the term 'mortality' specifically refers to the total number of deaths due to a particular disease or condition within a certain population over a specific period of time. It is a critical measure used in public health to assess the severity and impact of diseases on the population. Understanding mortality rates helps healthcare professionals, policymakers, and researchers evaluate health outcomes, allocate resources, and develop strategies to improve health and prevent deaths.

The other options pertain to different concepts in healthcare: the total number of hospital visits relates to healthcare usage; the total number of new cases refers to incidence; and the average age of patients provides demographic data, none of which directly define mortality.