The United States topped 18 other industrialized nationsin the rate of preventable deaths, according to a survey by the London Schoolof Hygiene.
The study ranked countries based on the number of deathsthat could have been stymied by common medical treatments and surgery. The U.S.dropped to 19th after being ranked 15th in 1997-98. The largest improvements,seen in The U.K., Ireland and Austria, are the result of widespread efforts toreduce smoking, improve food quality and increase citizen access to healthcare.
Of the 19 countries surveyed, the U.S. is the only onewithout universal healthcare coverage.
The report is available online athttp://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/27/1/58
