Standardized mortality ratios for Israel, 1983-86.

Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs), standardized by age, sex, continent of birth, and religion are presented by cause and region for the period 1983-86. Regional SMRs ranged from 90.6 in Jerusalem to 107.6 in Ramla. These differences may be due to direct and indirect occupational, environmental and socioeconomic effects as well as to possible health service differences. SMRs can be used to indicate regions where further in-depth epidemiological investigations are called for in order to ascertain the reasons for elevated disease specific SMRs. In addition, SMRs could be used as a global measure of all effects in order to adjust any regional budgetary allocation formula, based on capitation.