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. 2015 Nov 5:52:0046958015613091.
doi: 10.1177/0046958015613091. Print 2015.

Exploring the Life Expectancy Increase in Poland in the Context of CVD Mortality Fall: The Risk Assessment Bottom-Up Approach, From Health Outcome to Policies

Joanna Kobza  1 , Mariusz Geremek
Affiliations

Exploring the Life Expectancy Increase in Poland in the Context of CVD Mortality Fall: The Risk Assessment Bottom-Up Approach, From Health Outcome to Policies

Joanna Kobza et al. Inquiry. .

Abstract

Life expectancy at birth is considered the best mortality-based summary indicator of the health status of the population and is useful for measuring long-term health changes. The objective of this article was to present the concept of the bottom-up policy risk assessment approach, developed to identify challenges involved in analyzing risk factor reduction policies and in assessing how the related health indicators have changed over time. This article focuses on the reasons of the significant life expectancy prolongation in Poland over the past 2 decades, thus includes policy context. The methodology details a bottom-up risk assessment approach, a chain of relations between the health outcome, risk factors, and health policy, based on Risk Assessment From Policy to Impact Dimension project guidance. A decline in cardiovascular disease mortality was a key factor that followed life expectancy prolongation. Among basic factors, tobacco and alcohol consumption, diet, physical activity, and new treatment technologies were identified. Poor health outcomes of the Polish population at the beginning of 1990s highlighted the need of the implementation of various health promotion programs, legal acts, and more effective public health policies. Evidence-based public health policy needs translating scientific research into policy and practice. The bottom-up case study template can be one of the focal tools in this process. Accountability for the health impact of policies and programs and legitimization of the decisions of policy makers has become one of the key questions nowadays in European countries' decision-making process and in EU public health strategy.

Keywords: bottom-up approach; health determinants; health risk assessment; life expectancy; policy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Bottom-up health risk assessment model.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Life expectancy in Poland (1989-2012).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Standardized CVD mortality rate in Poland.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Percentage of regular daily smokers in the population, age 15+ (WHO, Health for All [HFA] database).
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Spirits consumed in pure alcohol in Poland, liters per capita, age 15+ (WHO, Health for All database).
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Fat intake in Poland (kg/person).
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Number of invasive cardiology procedures in Poland (1999-2007).
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Bottom-up full chain risk assessment model.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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