Abstract: Objective The present analysis was made to get an insight into the features of death spectrum and potential life lost caused by diseases among urban residents in the city of Huzhou in order to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of strategies for the prevention and control of diseases．Methods Death data of the urban residents in 2003 were statistically analyzed to determine the indices of death rate and years of potential life lost (YPLL)．Results The death rate of urban residents in 2003 in the city of Huzhou was 721.23／100，000，with male mortality being 832.69／100，000 and female mortality 609.51／100，000．The top 5 causes of death were malignancies，cerebrovascular diseases，disorders of respiratory system，cardiac disease and accidental injuries，whichcaused 76.42％ of total deaths．And the top 5 diseases causing years of potential life lost (YPLL) were accidental injuries，malignancies，cerebrovascular diseases，cardiac disease and disorders of respiratory system．Conclusion Accidental injuries and chronic and non-infectious diseases with malignancies，cerebrovascular diseases and cardiac disease as predominant ones are not only the main causes of death，but also the main causes of early deaths of residents in the city of Huzhou．Chronic and non-infectious diseases are closely related to bad life styles，so development of good life styles should be initiated from childhood and adolescence．Also，Interventions with accidental injuries ought to be taken seriously.