Trends in Belgian premature avoidable deaths over a 20 year period

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To analyse over a 20 year period the level and trends in the "EC avoidable death indicators". DESIGN: The Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL) method applied to curative and preventive avoidable mortality indicators in Belgium for four successive five year periods, countrywide as well as by district, separately for women and men. Ratios of YPLL rates (age standardised) describe changes between 1974-78 and 1990-94. SETTING: Belgium for the periods 1974-78, 1980-84, 1985-89, 1990-94. PARTICIPANTS: All avoidable death cases aged 1-64. MAIN RESULTS: Ratio of YPLL rates indicated a... Mehr ...