International Health Statistics What The Numbers Mean For The United States

Reviews how the U.S. compares with other developed countries on available health status measures. Evaluates the validity of the data used to make such comparisons. Includes chapters on purposes & limitations of international health comparisons; sociodemographic characteristics of comparison countries; infant mortality; mortality comparisons; morbidity, disability, & quality-of-life indicators; & health-related behaviors. Over 50 charts & tables

And findings -- Purposes and limitations of international health comparisons -- Sociodemographic characteristics of comparison countries -- Infant mortality -- Mortality comparisons -- Morbidity, disability, and quality-of-life indicators -- Health related behaviors.

The World health statistics 2020 report is the annual compilation of health statistics for 194 Member States. It summarizes trends in life expectancy and causes of death and reports on progress towards the health and health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and associated targets.

The United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, but it is far from the healthiest. Although life expectancy and survival rates in the United States have improved dramatically over the past century, Americans live shorter lives and experience more injuries and illnesses than people in other high-income countries. The U.S. health disadvantage cannot be attributed solely to the adverse health status of racial or ethnic minorities or poor people: even highly advantaged Americans are in worse health than their counterparts in other, "peer" countries. In light of the new and growing evidence about the U.S. health disadvantage, the National Institutes of Health asked the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to convene a panel of experts to study the issue. The Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries examined whether the U.S. health disadvantage exists across the life span, considered potential explanations, and assessed the larger implications of the findings. U.S. Health in International Perspective presents detailed evidence on the issue, explores the possible explanations for the shorter and less healthy lives of Americans than those of people in comparable countries, and recommends actions by both government and nongovernment agencies and organizations to address the U.S. health disadvantage.

First published in 2001. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.