Application of geographic information system in chronic disease epidemiology in China

The rapid-developing Geographic Information System（BIS）has been applied in epidemiological studies to a wider and more thorough extent. In recent years, being gradually introduced into epidemiological study of chronic diseases in China, BIS plays a significant role in various fields such as the predictive analysis of the spatial distribution of chronic diseases and analysis of the risk factors. However, the application of GIS in chronic disease epidemiology was at its initial stage in China with a severe lack of relevant research and limited application. Therefore, practical prospects of BIS in chronic disease studies should be expected.