Table 3.

Time trend of avoidable mortality rates^* (relative percent^†) among Koreans aged 1-64 yr by each category of medical intervention effective for preventing death, from 1983 to 2004

^*, Age- and sex-standardized rates per 100,000 persons, calculated using the entire Korean population in 1990 as a reference group; ^†, percentage of age- and sex-adjusted mortality rate in each year compared to that in 1983; ^‡, 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.