Abstract

The authors report on an investigation into the impact of competing risks in case of quantitative health targets. These targets are formulated as proportional reductions of specific mortality rates. Part I of the report contains an introduction into measures of mortality and morbidity. In part II some theoretical aspects of competing risks are described. Next the specific substituted mortality is calculated for the Dutch situation when the specific reductions are applied simultaneously. In part III some conclusions are mentioned together with some suggestions for further research on the subject of competing risks (in the strict sense).