Population Health

Population health is not merely the sum of the health of individuals; it also entails consideration of the nature of the distribution of health throughout the population. The first part of the definition of health, slightly adapted, was proposed in a draft document by WHO-EURO in the early 1980s. It was subsequently adopted, at least in part, by the Ottawa Declaration in 1987. ([http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.55.7.452](http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.55.7.452)) “The health outcomes of a group of individuals including the distribution of such outcomes within the group”. These groups are often geographic populations such as nations or communities, but can also be other groups such as employees, ethnic groups, disabled persons, prisoners, or any other defined group. ” (David Kindig, 2003)