Direct measurements pertaining to the morbidity component of the health risk impact were unavailable. In this study, indirect indicators of morbidity (like, for example, hospitalization and outpatient clinic visits) were used for assessment of the morbidity component.

The mortality component can be represented by one of two interdependent characteristics. The first characteristic is determined by the number of deaths associated with exposure to the risk factor. The second characteristic represents the years of potential life lost under age 65 that are related to the deaths associated with the risk factor exposure.

Technical assumptions that were used for calculating the burden of the health risks imply that people would not be uncomfortable with death if:

It did not occur prematurely, and

People did not suffer from disease prior to death.