Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation

Appendix 2

Our Healthier Nation White Paper - Glossary and References

 

Glossary and Technical Notes

National Targets - to reduce mortality from: cancer; coronary heart disease and stroke and related conditions; suicide; and to reduce the rate of fatal and serious injury from accidents.

Target year: 2010 for all four targets.

Baseline year:

Mortality targets: the average of the European age standardised rates for the three years 1995, 1996 and 1997.
Serious injury from accidents target: the hospital admission rates for the year 1995/96.

Sources of data:

Mortality targets: Office for National Statistics (ONS) mortality statistics from death registrations. Mortality rates are age standardised to allow for changes in the age structure of the population (using the European standard population as defined by the World Health Organisation).
Serious injury target: Hospital Episode Statistics.

 

Definitions:

Cancer - all malignant neoplasms - ICD-9 codes 140-208 inclusive.
Age group: under 75.
Target reduction by year 2010 - at least one fifth (20%).


Coronary heart disease and stroke and related conditions - includes all circulatory diseases - International Classification of Diseases ICD-9 codes 390-459 inclusive.
Age group: under 75.
Target reduction by year 2010 - at least two fifths (40%).

 

Accidents - mortality from accidents and adverse effects - ICD-9 codes E800-E949 inclusive
Age group: all ages
Target reduction by year 2010 - at least one fifth (20%).

- serious accidental injury relating to hospital admissions defined by ICD-10 codes as below
Age group: all ages
Target reduction by year 2010 - at least one tenth (10%).

The injury must be sufficiently serious to require a hospital stay of four days or more

 

Accident morbidity

  • Primary diagnosis must indicate an injury, ie is in range S00 through T98X
  • External cause code must be in one of the following ranges:
  • V01 - V99 Transport accidents
  • W00 - X59 Other external causes of accidental injury (mostly falls)
  • Y40 - Y8 Complications of medical and surgical care
  • Length of stay must exceed 3 days.

As some records with a primary diagnosis indicating an injury do not contain a valid external cause code, these codes will be scaled out in proportion to the records with a valid cause code before applying the second rule above. Coding of external cause is consistently improving and this correction will decrease in importance as coding approaches 100%.

 

Suicide - suicide and undetermined injury - ICD-9 codes E950-E959 plus E980-E989 minus E988.8
Age group: all ages.
Target reduction by year 2010 - at least one fifth (20%).

 

International Classification of Diseases

The World Health Organisation maintains a statistical classification of diseases, injuries and causes of death, which is internationally recognised and used. Currently, the ninth revision of this classification (ICD-9) is used in England for differentiating causes of death, but the tenth revision (ICD-10) is used for classifying hospital episodes.

 

Suicide and undetermined injury

Official suicides are those in which the coroner or official recorder has decided there is clear evidence that the injury was self-inflicted and the deceased intended to kill himself. Unofficial suicides or open verdicts are those where there may be doubt about the deceased's intentions. Research studies show that most open verdicts are in fact suicides. For the purposes of comparisons with other countries, the figures quoted are for official suicides, but for the purpose of measuring overall suicides in England, official suicides and open verdicts are combined.

 

Social class

The Registrar General's Social Class groupings used in this document are as follows:


Social class grouping Example occupations
I Professional Doctors, engineers
II Managerial/technical Managers, teachers
IIIN Non-manual skilled Clerks, cashiers
IIIM Manual skilled Carpenters, van drivers
IV Partly skilled Warehousemen, security guards
V Unskilled Labourers

It should be noted that the proportion of the working population falling into these groups changes over time, and comparisons of social class groupings over time should therefore be interpreted with caution.

 

Chapter Two

Fig no. Description

2.1 A major decline in death from all infectious diseases in the 20th Century

Derived from: Office for National Statistics. Charlton J, Murphy M, eds. The Health of Adult Britain: 1841-1994. London: The Stationery Office, 1997.

Additional data to 1997 from series DH2 nos 22,23,24. London: The Stationery Office, 1997, 1998, 1998.

2.2 Major improvements in expectation of life after centuries of early death

Office for National Statistics. Drever F, Whitehead M, eds. Health Inequalities. London: The Stationery Office, 1997.

2.3 Major fall in infant deaths in the 20th century

Office for National Statistics. Mortality Statistics: Childhood, infant and perinatal (series DH1 no. 19 (1841-1985) and DH3). London: The Stationery Office, DH1 - 1989, and DH3 - 1990-1998.

2.4 Age at death at the start and end of the 20th century

1900 The Registrar General. Sixty-Third Annual Report of the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages in England, 1900. London: HMSO, 1902.

1997 Office for National Statistics. Mortality Statistics Cause, England and Wales 1997 (DH2 no.24). London: The Stationery Office, 1998.

2.5 Selected causes of death at the start, middle and end of this century

1900 The Registrar General. Sixty-Third Annual Report of the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages in England, 1900. London: HMSO, 1902.

1950 Office for National Statistics. Charlton J, Murphy M, eds. The Health of Adult Britain: 1841-1994. London: The Stationery Office, 1997.

1997 Office for National Statistics. Mortality Statistics Cause, England and Wales, 1997 (DH2 no.24). London: The Stationery Office, 1998.

2.6 Deaths before age 75 years in England annually: a major contribution from the four priority areas

Based on : Department of Health. Public Health Common Data Set, 1998.

(Derived from Office for National Statistics data). London: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 1998.

2.7 Unhealthy years at the end of life

Bone M R, Bebbington A C, Jagger C, Morgan K, Nicolaas G. Health Expectancy and Its Uses. London: HMSO, 1995.

 

Chapter Three

Fig no. Description

3.1 Heart disease among public sector workers: higher rates associated with lack of control over job

Bosma H, Marmot M, Hemingway H, Nicholson A, Brunner E, Stansfield S.

Low job control and risk of coronary heart disease in Whitehall II (prospective cohort) study. British Medical Journal 1997; 314: 558-565.

 

Chapter Four

Fig. no. Description

4.1 Death and disadvantage: excess death rates amongst men in non-professional classes

Office for National Statistics. Drever F, Whitehead M, eds. Health Inequalities. London: The Stationery Office, 1997.

4.2 The widening mortality gap between social classes

Office for National Statistics, Decennial Supplements, indexed by Department of Health Statistics Division 2.

4.3 Asthmatics are two to three times more likely to live in damp properties

Williamson I J, Martin C J, McGill G, Monie R D H, Fennerty A G. Damp Housing and asthma: a case-control study. Thorax, 1997; 52: 229-234.

Chapter Five

Fig. no. Description

5.1 Change in annual death rates: some improving, some worsening

Analysed by Department of Health, Statistics Division 2, from Office for National Statistics data.

5.2 Death rates from all cancers - England in the middle of the Western Europe rankings

World Health Organisation, Copenhagen. Health For All indicators database (EU) England data analysed by Department of Health, Statistics Division 2 from Office for National Statistics data (ICD-9 140-208)

5.3 Death rates from breast cancer: UK amongst the worst in Western Europe

World Health Organisation, Copenhagen. Health For All indicators database (EU) England data analysed by Department of Health, Statistics Division 2, from Office for National Statistics data. (ICD-9 174)

5.4 Death rates from cervical cancer: English women amongst worst in Western Europe

World Health Organisation, Copenhagen. Health For All indicators database (EU) England data analysed by Department of Health, Statistics Division 2, from Office for National Statistics data. (ICD-9 180)

5.5 Cancer survival: England and Wales generally lag behind Europe and USA

Office for National Statistics. Cancer Survival Trends in England and Wales
1971-1995
. Deprivation and NHS Region. London: The Stationery Office, 1999.
(Includes data from Eurocare II (EU) and Seer (USA))

5.6 Survival is better in affluent than in deprived areas

Office for National Statistics. Cancer Survival Trends in England and Wales 1971-1995. Deprivation and NHS Region. London: The Stationery Office, 1999.

5.7 Some spectacular breakthroughs: five year survival rates for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children.

Cancer Research Campaign Factsheet 23.2 1995 and Office for National Statistics. Cancer Survival Trends in England and Wales 1971-1995. Deprivation and NHS Region. London: The Stationery Office, 1999.

5.8 Ways of beating cancer: examples of how everyone can play their part

 

Chapter Six

Fig no. Description

6.1 Death rates from circulatory disease: UK amongst highest in Western Europe

World Health Organisation, Copenhagen. Health For All indicators database (EU). (ICD-9 390-459)

6.2 Death rates from stroke: English women one of the worst records in Western Europe

World Health Organisation, Copenhagen. Health For All indicators database (EU) England data analysed by Department of Health, Statistics Division 2, from Office for National Statistics data. (ICD-9 430-438)

6.3 Levels of smoking have fallen more quickly in professional classes

Office for National Statistics. Series General Household Survey (1972-1996).
London: The Stationery Office 1974-1998.

6.4 Obesity in women: higher levels amongst manual social groups

Social and Community Planning Research (SCPR), Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. Prescott-Clarke P, Primatesta P eds. Health Survey for England 1996. London: The Stationery Office, 1998.

6.5 Well under half of people with high blood pressure are treated successfully

Social and Community Planning Research (SCPR), Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. Prescott-Clarke P, Primatesta P eds. 1991-96 data from Health Survey for England 1996. London: The Stationery Office, 1998. Data for Health Survey for England 1997 published on Internet website: www.doh.gov.uk/stats/hstab97/intro.htm

6.6 Unequal risk of heart disease death at different employment levels in the public sector: even after allowing for risk factors

Marmot M, Shipley M J, Rose G. Inequalities in death - specific explanations of a general pattern? The Lancet 1984; 1; 1003-1006.

6.7 Differing rates of coronary bypass operations and angioplasties

Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics data, calculated by Statistics Division 2. Figures are provisional, no adjustments have been made for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).

6.8 Ways of beating coronary heart disease and stroke: examples of how everyone can play their part

 

Chapter Seven

Fig no. Description

7.1 Deaths from motor vehicle traffic accidents: England performs comparatively well

World Health Organisation, Copenhagen. Health For All indicators database (EU) England data analysed by Department of Health Statistics Division 2, from Office for National Statistics data. (ICD-9 E810-E819)

7.2 Death rates from all accidents in children

England data analysed by Department of Health, Statistics Division 2, from Office for National Statistics data.

7.3 Child pedestrian deaths: England one of the worst records in Europe

International Road Traffic and Accident database (OECD) via Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. From website - www.bast.de/indexeng.htm

7.4 Accidents kill proportionately more children as they grow up

Analysed by Department of Health, Statistics Division 2, from Office for National Statistics data

7.5 Deaths from accidental falls in older people are not reducing

Analysed by Department of Health, Statistics Division 2, from Office for National Statistics data.

7.6 Childhood accident deaths involving head injury occur close to home

Derived from Sharples P M, Storey A, Aynsley-Green A, Eyre J A. British Medical Journal 1990; 301: 1193-7.

7.7 Traffic calming can cut pedestrian road accidents

Birmingham City Council via Birmingham Health Authority.

7.8 Ways of beating accidental injury: examples of how everyone can play their part

 

Chapter Eight

Fig no. Description

8.1 Death rates from suicide: England one of the best records in European Union

World Health Organisation, Copenhagen. Health For All indicators database (EU) England data analysed by Department of Health, Statistics Division 2, from Office for National Statistics data. (ICD-9 E950-E959).

8.2 Ways of beating mental health problems: examples of how everyone can play their part

 

Chapter Nine

Fig no. Description

9.1 Live births to teenage women in Europe: UK has the highest rate in Western Europe

Eurostat and United Nations Demographic Yearbook 1996, via Social Exclusion Unit.

9.2 Underage pregnancies: a map of inequalities

Based on: Department of Health. Public Health Common Data Set, 1998. (Derived from Office for National Statistics data). London: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 1998.

9.3 Percentage of young males and females who have taken illicit drugs

Ramsay M, Spiller J, Drug Misuse Declared in 1996: Latest Results from the British Crime Survey. Home Office Research Study no 172. London: Home Office,
1997.

9.4 Some of the most common adverse health effects of heavy alcohol consumption

Department of Health. Based on Sensible drinking. The report of an inter- departmental working group. Department of Health, 1995

9.5 The rising trend of reports of food poisoning

Public Health Laboratory Service, website - www.phls.co.uk/facts/foodt1.ht

9.6 Vaccination conquers disease: the trend for diphtheria

Derived from: Office for National Statistics. Charlton J, Murphy M, eds. The Health of Adult Britain: 1841-1994. London: The Stationery Office, 1997. Additional data to 1997: Public Health Laboratory Service, website - www.phls.co.uk/facts/dip.htm

9.7 An old adversary returning: the recent rise in tuberculosis

Public Health Laboratory Service, website - www.phls.co.uk/facts/tube-toi.htm

9.8 Women in some ethnic groups have a low uptake of potentially life-saving cervical cancer smears

Health Education Authority. Kai Rudat ed. of MORI Health Research Unit. Black and Minority Ethnic Groups in England. Health and Lifestyles. Great Britain: BPC Wheatons Ltd; 1994.

9.9 Relative mortality from coronary heart disease by ethnic origin

Wild S, McKeigue P: British Medical Journal 314, (7082) 1997: 705-710, from Office for National Statistics data.

9.10 High rates of suicide amongst young women born in the Indian sub-continent and living in this country

Soni Raleigh V. Suicide patterns and trends in people of Indian Subcontinent and Caribbean origin in England and Wales. Ethnicity and Health, 1996:1(1): 55-63.

 

Chapter Eleven

Fig no. Description

11.1 Cancers: how the strategy will save lives

11.2 Circulatory disease: how the strategy will save lives

11.3 Accidental injury: how the strategy will save lives

11.4 Suicide: how the strategy will save lives

Estimates by Department of Health Economics and Operational Research Division, based on mortality data from Office for National Statistics.


Back to previous Section Back to Contents Back to other Official Documents pages
We welcome your comments on this site.
Prepared 5 July 1999