the decline in avoidable mortality (am) and increase in life expectancy in shanghai is impressive. gusmano and colleagues suggested that shanghai’s improved health system has contributed significantly to this decline in am. however, when compared to other global cities, shanghai’s life expectancy at birth is improving as london and new york city, but has yet to surpass that of hong kong, tokyo,...

Alcohol use is related to a wide variety of negative health outcomes including morbidity, mortality, and disability. Research on alcohol-related morbidity and mortality takes into account the varying effects of overall alcohol consumption and drinking patterns. The results from this epidemiological research indicate that alcohol use increases the risk for many chronic health consequences (e.g.,...

Maps are powerful tools used to analyze and compare a wide range of geographically referenced data. The last third of the twentieth century has witnessed the increasing use of maps to portray statistical information. Maps of mortality and morbidity are useful for assessing relationships with potential risk factors. They can also be used to track progress in public health programs and policy dev...