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Tends in avoidable mortality in England and Wales, 1993-2005
Levin Wheller1, Allan Baker, Clare Griffiths
1Office for National Statistics.
Health Statistics Quarterly
|June 22, 2007
Summary
Avoidable mortality, deaths amenable to medical intervention, significantly declined in England and Wales from 1993-2005. This study examines definitions and indicators for measuring these public health trends.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Avoidable mortality is a critical public health issue with no standardized definition or reporting methods.
- Defining and measuring avoidable mortality is essential for public health policy and intervention assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in avoidable mortality in England and Wales between 1993 and 2005.
- To compare two definitions of avoidable mortality and evaluate statistical indicators for reporting.
- To discuss the most appropriate indicators for measuring avoidable deaths and inform a National Statistics definition.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two distinct definitions of avoidable mortality.
- Employed two statistical indicators for mortality analysis.
- Analyzed mortality data for England and Wales spanning 1993 to 2005.
Main Results:
- A significant decrease in mortality amenable to medical intervention was observed over the study period.
- Both definitions and indicators consistently showed a downward trend in avoidable deaths.
Conclusions:
- Substantial progress has been made in reducing deaths considered preventable by medical care.
- Further discussion is needed to establish a definitive National Statistics definition and optimal measurement indicators for avoidable mortality.
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