Health at a Glance: Asia/Pacific 2012
This second edition of Health at a Glance Asia/Pacific presents a set of key indicators of health status, the determinants of health, health care resources and utilisation, health care expenditure and financing and health care quality across 27 Asia/Pacific countries and economies.
Drawing on a wide range of data sources, it builds on the format used in previous editions of Health at a Glance, and gives readers a better understanding of the factors that affect the health of populations and the performance of health systems in these countries and economies.
Each of the indicators 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. An annex provides additional information on the demographic context in which health systems operate.
Alcohol
Although most people enjoy drinking alcohol responsibly, the health burden related to hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption, both in terms of morbidity and mortality, is considerable in many parts of the world. High alcohol intake increases the risk for chronic diseases such as liver cirrhosis, cancers, cardiovascular diseases and injury, and impacts foetal and child development. Drunkenness and alcohol dependence also leads to harmful social consequences, such as drink-driving and violence (WHO, 2011i).