Analysis of cause of death of residents in Beijing between 1949 and 2006

ObjectiveTo learn the health status of residents in Beijing.MethodsThis study was based on death survillance data in Beijing from 1949 to 2006.To evaluate health status of those residents,the relative health indicators as mortality rate,infant mortality rate and life expectancy were used.ResultsDuring 56 years the total mortality rate,infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate decreased by 62.55%,95.75% and 88.82% respectively,while the life expectancy increased by 28 years.Recently there were more changes in ranking of death causes.In 1949 the leading death cause was infectious diseases,however after 56 years that mortality rate have decreased by 98.28% and the rank went to the tenth.ConclusionInfectious diseases had decreased.Meanwhile,chronic diseases such as cerebrovascular diseases,heart diseses,neoplasms are becoming major health problems.