title: Mortality patterns in the West Bank, Palestinian Territories, 1999-2003.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The West Bank in the Palestinian Territories is undergoing an epidemiologic transition. We provide a general description of mortality from all causes, focusing on chronic disease mortality in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mortality data analyzed for our study were obtained from the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the West Bank for 1999 through 2003. Individual information was obtained from death notification forms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 27,065 deaths were reported for 1999 through 2003 in the West Bank, Palestinian Territories. Circulatory diseases were the main cause of death (45%), followed by cancer (10%) and unintentional injuries (7%). Among men, the highest age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) were due to diseases of the circulatory system, cancer, and unintentional injuries. Among women, the highest ASMRs were due to circulatory disease, cancer, and diabetes mellitus. Of the circulatory diseases, the highest ASMRs for men were due to acute myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular disease. ASMRs attributable to circulatory system diseases were similar for women. Lung cancer was the largest cause of cancer mortality for men; breast cancer was the largest cause for women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the high mortality rates, the risk factors associated with chronic diseases in the Palestinian Territories must be ascertained. Medical and public health policies and interventions need to be reassessed, giving due attention to this rise in modern-day diseases in this area.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, PO Box 154, Ramallah, West Bank. nrmeileh@birzeit.edu
authors.forename: Niveen M E
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Abu-Rmeileh
authors.forename: Abdullatif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Husseini
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abu-Arqoub
authors.forename: Mutasem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamad
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giacaman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000401:mortality; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D011203:Poverty
references.citation: Lancet. 2000 Oct 21;356(9239):1410-1
references.pmid: 11052588
references.citation: Am J Epidemiol. 2001 Jul 15;154(2):128-37
references.pmid: 11447045
references.citation: CA Cancer J Clin. 1999 Jan-Feb;49(1):33-64, 1
references.pmid: 10200776
references.citation: Int J Epidemiol. 2006 Apr;35(2):448-57
references.pmid: 16455758
references.citation: Public Health Nutr. 2002 Feb;5(1A):135-40
references.pmid: 12027276
references.citation: Circulation. 1998 Feb 17;97(6):596-601
references.pmid: 9494031
references.citation: Lancet. 2003 Sep 13;362(9387):847-52
references.pmid: 13678970
references.citation: Int J Epidemiol. 1999 Dec;28(6):1073-80
references.pmid: 10661650
references.citation: BMC Cancer. 2002 Dec 26;2:37
references.pmid: 12502432
references.citation: Public Health Nutr. 2002 Feb;5(1A):141-8
references.pmid: 12027277
references.citation: Eur J Clin Nutr. 1999 Dec;53(12):953-8
references.pmid: 10602353
references.citation: Bull World Health Organ. 2005 Mar;83(3):171-7
references.pmid: 15798840
references.citation: Diabetes Care. 2001 Feb;24(2):275-9
references.pmid: 11213878
references.citation: Stroke. 2000 Jul;31(7):1588-601
references.pmid: 10884459
references.citation: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2001 Nov;25(11):1736-40
references.pmid: 11753598
references.citation: Public Health Nutr. 2002 Feb;5(1A):149-55
references.pmid: 12027278
references.citation: Int J Epidemiol. 2001 Apr;30(2):201-5
references.pmid: 11369713
references.citation: Health Aff (Millwood). 2000 May-Jun;19(3):204-12
references.pmid: 10812800