Comparing health indicators at the city level – the example of Vienna

Abstract

Background. Various projects have identified the need for common indicators for comparing countries and
more recently, regions. The Vienna publication aims to contribute to this discussion.
Methods and Results. While not perfect, aggregate measures such as life expectancy and mortality can act
as indicators of the general level of health in international comparisons. They are relatively reliable and
easily accessible and are often available at regional levels.
Conclusion. Despite their limitations, international reference values provide relevant information on the
position of a country or city within Europe. They can provide inspiration and motivation for policy makers and
visualise past successes