Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Thursday, April 1, 2010

Health Profile of England 2009


The Health Profile of England (HPoE) provides national and regional data, which local areas can compare against their own Health Profiles. There is a section of international comparisons. The HPoE is intended for public service professionals and officials within the local community.

What the Health Profile of England 2009 shows – the general picture

An improvement in health outcomes

The report shows recent improvements in a number of critical areas, eg:

  • declining mortality rates in targeted killers (cancers, all circulatory diseases and suicides)
  • increasing life expectancy, now at its highest ever level
  • further reductions in infant and perinatal mortality
  • recent reductions in new diagnoses of gonorrhoea

However in some areas particular challenges remain to achieve and sustain progress, eg:

  • rising rates of diabetes
  • rising alcohol related hospital admissions and alcohol related deaths

Similarly for the determinants of health, we are making improvements in some important areas:

  • the percentage of people who smoke
  • quality of housing stock
  • the proportion of school aged children completing at least two hours of PE and school sport a week.

However, even where we are seeing improvements, health inequalities are often present

  • The report illustrates various geographical inequalities across England.

International comparisons give a wider context presenting national progress in comparison to countries of the European Union (EU), or to the 15 countries that were members of the EU prior to 2004 (EU-15), eg:

  • Premature mortality rates from the two biggest killers, circulatory diseases and cancer are reducing faster in England than the average for the EU for both males and females
  • The prevalence of adult obesity in England is amongst the highest in the EU
  • Death rates for chronic liver disease and cirrhosis have risen markedly in a handful of countries, particularly in recent years. For both males and females latest data show that mortality rates in England have risen above the EU-15 average
  • The percentage of all live births to mothers under age 20 in the United Kingdom remains the highest when compared to other EU-15 countries. Infant mortality rates are also higher in England than the EU-15 average.
Read Full Report (PDF)
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