Ireland's health outcomes have improved over the past 20 years compared to many other countries, according to a new international study.

The survey was carried out among the 15 original members of the EU, including Ireland, along with Australia, Canada, Norway and the USA.

The research shows that Ireland improved from last place in the league table for age-standardised death rates in 1990 among the 19 countries to 13th place in 2010.

Under the 'age standardised years of life lost from diseases' heading, Ireland moved up from 15th to 12th place over the two decades, while we moved up from 18th to 13th place under life expectancy at birth.

Ireland also improved from 15th to 10th place under the 'healthy life expectancy' heading.

In contrast, the UK has dropped down the league table,with a disimproved performance under age-standardised death rates, years of life lost and life expectancy at birth.

The only category in which Ireland fell down the league table was under 'age standardised years lived with disability', under which we dropped from third to ninth place.

Our lower rating under this heading believed to be due to the fact that thanks to advances in drugs and other medical technologies, people are now living longer with chronic conditions.

The study shows that Ireland's performance has improved from 19th to 16th place in terms of years of life lost due to heart disease among the 19 countries, from 11th to 9th for stroke, from 11th to 10th for lung cancer, from 19th to 13th for chronic lung disease and from 18th to 15th for colo-rectal cancer

However, we have remained in 15th place over 20 years in terms of years of life lost from breast cancer and in fifth place under this heading for diabetes.

Countries who had the best performance under the different headings were Australia for age standardised death rates, Sweden for years of life lost from diseases and life expectancy at birth, and Spain for years lived with disability and healthy life expectancy.

The researchers used data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study. The research was published in The Lancet.