title: [Relationship between the development of the health status and the activity of the health care system in developed countries].
abstract: The question of the relationship between the evolution of health status and the activity of health care system in developed countries is treated frequently through epidemiological studies. However, there are numerous methodological difficulties linked to this type of investigation and it is not possible to give a certain answer to this question. Particular difficulties concern the choice of indicators (indicators of health status and indicators of health care system). This choice may influence largely the outcome of the results. If general mortality has tended to decline over the last thirty years, some causes of death have progressed and many studies show an increase of the level of morbidity and disabilities declared in the population and an increase of social disparities in health status. The analysis concerning the role of health care systems, in order to explain this evolution, does not lead to a single conclusion. Some works show the positive effect of the activity of health care systems (especially for infant mortality). According to other authors, the growth of chronic diseases must be considered as the negative aspect of the success obtained in the struggle against mortality. But above all, interpretation of results needs a continuous reference to methodologies used and it is only on this condition that such data may be useful for public health decisions.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, Le Vésinet, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jougla
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hatton
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Letoullec
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009026:Mortality; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States
vernacular_title: Relation entre l'évolution de l'état de santé et l'activité du système de santé dans les pays développés.