International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Shanghai Rising: Health Improvements as Measured by Avoidable Mortality since 2000

Document Type : Short Communication

Authors
Michael K. Gusmano 1
Victor G. Rodwin 2
Chunfang Wang 3
Daniel Weisz 4
Li Luo 5
Fu Hua 5
1 The Hasting Center, Garrison, New York, USA
2 Robert Wagner School of Public Service, New York, USA
3 Vital Statistics Division, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Shanghai, China
4 The International Longevity Center, Columbia University, New York, USA
5 School of Public Health, Shanghai, China
10.15171/ijhpm.2015.07
Abstract
Over the past two decades, Shanghai, the largest megacity in China, has been coping with unprecedented growth of its economy and population while overcoming previous underinvestment in the health system by the central and local governments. We study the evolution of Shanghai’s healthcare system by analyzing “Avoidable Mortality” (AM) – deaths amenable to public health and healthcare interventions, as previously defined in the literature. Based on analysis of mortality data, by cause of death, from the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, we analyze trends over the period 2000–10 and compare Shanghai’s experience to other mega-city regions – New York, London and Paris. Population health status attributable to public health and healthcare interventions improved dramatically for Shanghai’s population with permanent residency status. The age-adjusted rate of AM, per 1,000 population, dropped from 0.72 to 0.50. The rate of decrease in age-adjusted AM in Shanghai (30%) was comparable to New York City (30%) and Paris (25%), but lower than London (42%). Shanghai’s establishment of the Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention and its upgrading of public health and health services are likely to have contributed to the large decrease in the number and rate of avoidable deaths, which suggests that investments in public health infrastructure and increasing access to health services in megacities – both in China and worldwide – can produce significant mortality declines. Future analysis in Shanghai should investigate inequalities in avoidable deaths and the extent to which these gains have benefitted the significant population of urban migrants who do not have permanent residency status.

Highlights

Commentaries Published on this Paper

  • The Chinese Healthcare Challenge; Comment on “Shanghai Rising: Avoidable Mortality as Measured by Avoidable Mortality since 2000”

            Abstract | PDF

  • What Really Matters: Living Longer or Living Healthier; Comment on “Shanghai Rising: Health Improvements as Measured by Avoidable Mortality Since 2000”

            Abstract | PDF

  • Shanghai’s Track Record in Population Health Status: What Can Explain It?; Comment on “Shanghai Rising: Health Improvements as Measured by Avoidable Mortality Since 2000”

            Abstract | PDF

  • Health Improvements for a Healthy Shanghai Rising; Comment on “Shanghai Rising: Health Improvements as Measured by Avoidable Mortality since 2000”

            Abstract | PDF

  • Untimely Applause Was a Distraction; Comment on “Shanghai Rising: Health Improvements as Measured by Avoidable Mortality since 2000”

            Abstract | PDF

 

Authors' Response to the Commentaries

  • Cities and Health: A Response to the Recent Commentaries

            Abstract | PDF

 

 

Watch the Video Summary here. 

 

Keywords
Shanghai
Urban Health
Amenable Mortality
Subjects

 

 

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  • Received Date 16 November 2014
  • Revised Date 17 December 2014
  • Accepted Date 23 December 2014
  • First Published Date 01 January 2015
  • Published Date 01 January 2015