Table 1.

Selected causes of avoidable death^†

^*, International classification of diseases; ^†, determined based on the European Community Atlas of "Avoidable Death". Perinatal death was excluded. Deaths from malignant neoplasms of the stomach and colorectum were added; ^‡, diseases for which major etiological factors such as smoking, occupational and environmental exposure have been identified and whose impact should be reduced through adequate primary prevention; ^§, neoplastic diseases for which early diagnosis, followed by appropriate therapy, has been shown to largely increase patient survival rates; ^∥, diseases associated with poor hygienic conditions and other diseases which are strongly influenced by the efficiency of the public health system in providing correct diagnosis and an appropriate treatment in due time.