Avoidable mortality pattern in a Chinese population--Hong Kong, China.
BACKGROUND
We examined the avoidable mortality pattern in Hong Kong, and the influence of age and gender. Comparison with Paris, Inner London and Manhattan was performed, and we discussed the findings in terms of prevention programmes, ethnicity and lifestyles.


METHODS
Mortality and population data by age and gender were obtained from vital statistics sources. Two periods, 1999-2003 and 2004-06, were selected for analysis. Negative binomial regression and logistic regression were used to model, respectively, the number and proportion of avoidable mortality, in relation to age and gender.


RESULTS
The standardized total mortality rates (per 1000 population) were 2.51 in the period 1999-2003 and 2.25 in the period 2004-06, whereas the standardized avoidable mortality rates (per 1000 population) were 0.85 and 0.77 for the two periods, respectively. Cerebrovascular disease (stroke) was the leading cause of avoidable mortality. Women in the age range of 65-74 years had the highest avoidable mortality proportion. In 1999-2003, Hong Kong had the second lowest standardized avoidable mortality rate among the four cities compared, whereas the avoidable mortality proportion was the highest.


CONCLUSIONS
There might be room for improvement in the primary care system in Hong Kong, particularly in the development of effective prevention programmes targeting the leading causes of avoidable mortality.
Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. phchau@graduate.hku.hk
Pui Hing
PH
Chau
Jean
J
Woo
Kam Che
KC
Chan
Daniel
D
Weisz
Michael K
MK
Gusmano
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011320:Primary Health Care; D017678:Sex Distribution; D020521:Stroke / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult