Health at a Glance 2011
OECD Indicators
This sixth edition of Health at a Glance provides the latest comparable data on different aspects of the performance of health systems in OECD countries. It provides striking evidence of large variations across countries in the costs, activities and results of health systems. Key indicators provide information on health status, the determinants of health, health care activities and health expenditure and financing in OECD countries. Each indicator in the book is presented in a user-friendly format, consisting of charts illustrating variations across countries and over time, brief descriptive analyses highlighting the major findings conveyed by the data, and a methodological box on the definition of the indicator and any limitations in data comparability.
Avoidable admissions: Respiratory diseases
Chronic conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are either preventable or manageable through proper prevention or primary care interventions. Proper management of these chronic conditions in primary care settings can reduce exacerbation and costly hospitalisation. Hospital admission rates serve as a proxy for primary care quality, so high admission rates may point to poor care co-ordination or care continuity. They may also indicate structural constraints such as the supply of family physicians (AHRQ, 2009; Starfield et al., 2005).
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