Latest news with #prematuremortality
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Areas of the UK where you're most likely to die young - do YOU live in one of them?
Britain's stark death divide was today laid bare in an interactive map revealing how your risk of dying prematurely varies depending on where you live. Figures show how Blackpool has the highest premature mortality rate—for every 100,000 people living there, nearly 700 died before turning 75. Although that rate appears low, it was 2.5 times higher than Richmond upon Thames, where adults had the best chances of avoiding an early grave, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The affluent south west London borough had a rate of just 285 per 100,000. The first-of-its-kind research, which tracked deaths between 2021 and 2023, uncovered a clear North-South divide. Out of the 20 constituencies with the worst premature death rates, 14 of them were in the north, with three in the Midlands and three in Wales. All rates are age-standardised, meaning they factor in the age distribution of different areas. This is because comparing two populations that have different age structures is not fair. Premature deaths may happen from illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, injuries, violence and even suicide. Daniel Ayoubkhani, head of the ONS health research group, said: 'This analysis shows a clear association between where you live and your risk of dying prematurely. 'When accounting for differences in age and sex, we see that there are substantial differences in premature mortality rates across local authorities in England and Wales.' Charles Tallack, Health Foundation director of research and analysis, added: 'The opportunity of living a long and healthy life is dependent on the socio-economic conditions people live in. 'This analysis can be used to support co-ordinated, cross-sector action to address health inequalities.' According to the ONS figures, behind Blackpool came Blaenau Gwent in Wales (618), Knowsley (616) and Liverpool (609). Middlesbrough and Blackburn with Darwen, meanwhile, logged figures of 605 and 604. Blackpool has also long been plagued with widespread drug and alcohol abuse, mental health crises and high suicide rates. These types of deaths have been described by the bleakly poetic phrase 'deaths of despair' by health researchers. The ONS data does not include Scotland or Northern Ireland. It is also different to life expectancy, which is typically lower in Scotland. This is due to the well-publicised problems of high alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, sedentary behaviour and smoking rates—which are slightly higher than England. The analysis also broke down premature mortality rates by health condition—cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions and diabetes—with Blackpool again ranking in worst position for three out the four. The data showed the town had an age-standardised mortality rate due to cancer of 208—more than double that of Harrow which recorded a rate of 103. It was followed by Kingston upon Hull (202) and Knowsley (199). The analysis also comes after a study last year concluded one in four premature deaths will be due to cancer between 2023 and 2050. This equates to around 50,000 per year, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It warned that the 'current trajectory of cancer costs is unsustainable'. Experts have long warned that lung cancer is the leading cause of the extra cases linked to deprivation, mostly because smoking is much more common with those living in deprived areas. They are also more likely to be overweight or obese, which is the second biggest preventable risk factor for cancer after smoking. Deprived people are also less aware of cancer symptoms and also experience more barriers to seeking help—such as getting an appointment at a time that works for them. Among the areas with the highest age-standardised mortality rate due to cardiovascular disease, Blackpool (146) was followed again by Blaenau Gwent (141) and Sandwell (137). Alarming data last year revealed that premature deaths from cardiovascular problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, in England had hit their highest level in more than a decade. Blackpool (113), equally, was also followed by Knowsley for the highest rate of age-standardised mortality due to respiratory conditions (109). But for diabetes related premature deaths, the London borough of Newham recorded the highest figure at 115. Sandwell,meanwhile, reported a figure of 109, with the London borough of Tower Hamlets and Luton, both logging 105.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Deprivation and ethnicity behind ‘considerable' inequality in premature death
There is a 'clear association' between where you live and your risk of dying prematurely, with factors such as deprivation and ethnicity accounting for much of the difference across local areas, a new study has found. Education, occupation and whether someone was born in the UK are also likely to contribute to the sharp contrasts that are evident around the country. The research is the first of its kind to explore the impact of such characteristics on premature mortality at a local level. It has been carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on behalf of independent charity The Health Foundation, which said the findings can be used 'to support co-ordinated action to address health inequalities'. Premature mortality is defined as someone who dies from any cause before they reach the age of 75. The study focused on adults in England and Wales in the period March 2021 to December 2023. It found that levels of premature death in Blackpool, the local authority with the highest rate at 696 per 100,000 people, were nearly 2.5 times above those in the London borough of Richmond upon Thames, which had the lowest rate of 285 per 100,000. While these figures took into account differences in age and sex among the local population, they did not reflect ethnicity, nationality of birth and socio-economic factors such as deprivation and education. But after further adjustment for ethnicity and being born outside the UK, Blackpool's mortality rate was found to be 2.3 times higher than Richmond upon Thames – and with additional adjustment for socio-economic status, it fell to 1.1 times higher. By contrasting the mortality rates before and after these factors were taken into account, the ONS was able to see the influence such characteristics have on levels of premature death. Socio-economic status has 'the greatest impact on variation in premature mortality rates, suggesting that it accounts for a considerable proportion of these geographical inequalities', the ONS said. This trend was evident not only when considering levels of premature mortality from all causes but also for premature deaths due to cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and respiratory conditions. Daniel Ayoubkhani, head of the ONS health research group, said: 'This analysis shows a clear association between where you live and your risk of dying prematurely. 'When accounting for differences in age and sex, we see that there are substantial differences in premature mortality rates across local authorities in England and Wales. 'For the first time, we have explored the role of socioeconomic characteristics, ethnicity, and whether someone was born in the UK in geographic variations in premature mortality, revealing that these factors explain much, but not all, of the differences in premature mortality rates between local authorities.' Charles Tallack, Health Foundation director of research and analysis, said: 'The opportunity of living a long and healthy life is dependent on the socio-economic conditions people live in. 'This analysis can be used to support co-ordinated, cross-sector action to address health inequalities.'
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Deprivation and ethnicity behind ‘considerable' inequality in premature death
There is a 'clear association' between where you live and your risk of dying prematurely, with factors such as deprivation and ethnicity accounting for much of the difference across local areas, a new study has found. Education, occupation and whether someone was born in the UK are also likely to contribute to the sharp contrasts that are evident around the country. The research is the first of its kind to explore the impact of such characteristics on premature mortality at a local level. It has been carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on behalf of independent charity The Health Foundation, which said the findings can be used 'to support co-ordinated action to address health inequalities'. Premature mortality is defined as someone who dies from any cause before they reach the age of 75. The study focused on adults in England and Wales in the period March 2021 to December 2023. In partnership with The Health Foundation, we've published insights into premature mortality rates for adults in upper tier local authorities in England and Wales, accounting for differences in sex, age, ethnicity, whether born in the UK, and socioeconomic characteristics. — Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) July 8, 2025 It found that levels of premature death in Blackpool, the local authority with the highest rate at 696 per 100,000 people, were nearly 2.5 times above those in the London borough of Richmond upon Thames, which had the lowest rate of 285 per 100,000. While these figures took into account differences in age and sex among the local population, they did not reflect ethnicity, nationality of birth and socio-economic factors such as deprivation and education. But after further adjustment for ethnicity and being born outside the UK, Blackpool's mortality rate was found to be 2.3 times higher than Richmond upon Thames – and with additional adjustment for socio-economic status, it fell to 1.1 times higher. By contrasting the mortality rates before and after these factors were taken into account, the ONS was able to see the influence such characteristics have on levels of premature death. Socio-economic status has 'the greatest impact on variation in premature mortality rates, suggesting that it accounts for a considerable proportion of these geographical inequalities', the ONS said. This trend was evident not only when considering levels of premature mortality from all causes but also for premature deaths due to cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and respiratory conditions. Daniel Ayoubkhani, head of the ONS health research group, said: 'This analysis shows a clear association between where you live and your risk of dying prematurely. 'When accounting for differences in age and sex, we see that there are substantial differences in premature mortality rates across local authorities in England and Wales. 'For the first time, we have explored the role of socioeconomic characteristics, ethnicity, and whether someone was born in the UK in geographic variations in premature mortality, revealing that these factors explain much, but not all, of the differences in premature mortality rates between local authorities.' Charles Tallack, Health Foundation director of research and analysis, said: 'The opportunity of living a long and healthy life is dependent on the socio-economic conditions people live in. 'This analysis can be used to support co-ordinated, cross-sector action to address health inequalities.'
CBC
13-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
Men are not OK, report on premature deaths in Canada suggests
About 44 per cent of men living in Canada die prematurely, according to a new report from the Movember Institute of Men's Health. The report defines premature mortality as deaths in men before age 75. The deaths from cancer, coronary heart disease, accidents, suicide and the opioid crisis include some causes that might have been prevented through vaccinations, lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or avoiding injuries. In 2023, almost 75,000 males died prematurely, according to Statistics Canada. "We're here because too many men are dying too young from largely preventable causes," Catherine Corriveau of Movember Canada said at a news conference on Parliament Hill on Thursday. Suicide was the fourth leading cause of premature death in males after cancer, coronary heart disease and accidents. Three in four of the deaths by suicide in Canada were men, Corriveau said. While the report looks at the health needs of men overall, the group noted those statistics were much worse for Indigenous men or men living in vulnerable communities. Stigma, gender bias and low health literacy are long-standing barriers that often prevent men from seeking care until it's too late, the report's authors said. The impact extends to families, communities and the economy. Fathers and sons learn together Niigaan Sinclair, a co-author of the report and professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, said one solution is to have fathers and sons learn together. He gave an example during a recent fathers' weekend where he spoke and saw boys and men who grew up without fathers or uncles learning skills like how to tie their shoes, do a puzzle or build a lodge together. "That young man who has become a father, he too didn't learn that because he wasn't able to, because many of those ceremonies in his community were gutted and removed," said Sinclair, who is also the son of the late Senator Murray Sinclair, the first Indigenous person appointed as a judge in Manitoba and chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into residential schools. "Making mistakes together, learning humility together, learning to laugh together at themselves, but then ultimately making something together that they could be proud of. That's truly what I think a goal would be for any program that would teach healthy Indigenous masculinity or Indigenous manhood." WATCH | Black men discuss Black masculinity, dating and fatherhood: Black men's mental health and the healing power of community 1 year ago Duration 6:47 Khan Bouba-Dalambaye and Sheldon Lewis, the co-facilitators of the Black Men's Wellness program run by the Black Healing Centre, have been sharing their experiences with other Black men like Kerwins Saint-Jean, addressing a wide range of topics such as identity, dating, fatherhood and Black masculinity. Those lessons could help men avoid outcomes like jail, hospitalization or premature death, Sinclair said, while also benefiting families and their communities. The report also suggests embracing the power of sport to promote health. Experiences with seeking help The report's authors also analyzed national mortality trends. Previously, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) said deaths from preventable causes were twice that for men than women. The Movember report included a nationally representative poll of more than 1,500 men on their experiences engaging with primary care. Only about 48 per cent of respondents said they felt actively listened to during a first health-care interaction. "If they don't feel listened to and if they don't feel cared for, they might not show up again," Corriveau said. Dr. Vincent Agyapong, a professor and head of psychiatry at Dalhousie University, said he was surprised by that finding. "It reflects that health-care providers need to listen more empathetically," said Agyapong, who was not involved in the report and welcomed the authors' multi-pronged approach to mental health that isn't one-size-fits-all. "It's always very difficult for men to reach out and seek help," Agyapong said. Prioritize mental health literacy When men do seek help, Agyapong said, it's important that health-care providers are sensitive and focus on the main concern that brought the person in off the bat, instead of launching into a checklist of background questions. Agyapong said schools and workplaces should prioritize mental health literacy, providing men with resources to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental disorders and know they are treatable with medications and psychological approaches. Mental health promotion for men at risk will lead to more people seeking healthcare such as psychological help earlier on when they are distressed rather than trying to manage themselves or turning to alcohol and drugs, which can be risk factors themselves, Agyapong said. Corriveau said Canada has an opportunity to address the challenges of health promotion by developing a national men's health strategy to respond to their health-care needs. Australia and the U.K. have already done so.
Daily Mail
10-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: The constituencies in England and Wales where women are most likely to die young
The constituencies of England and Wales where women are most likely to die young can today be revealed. Blackpool South has the highest premature mortality rate of 484.6 for every 100,000 women, MailOnline analysis shows. Although that rate appears low, it is 3.4 times higher than in Wokingham – the area of the country where women have the best chances of avoiding an early grave. The affluent Berkshire town had a rate of just 141 per 100,000. Mortality data held by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which defines premature deaths as anything before 75 and calculates an age-standardised value, lay bare a clear North-South divide. Out of the 20 constituencies with the worst premature death rates, 16 of them were in the north and three in the Midlands. The only one outside the north and midlands was sixth place Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney (407) in Wales. For comparison, 19 out of 20 areas with the lowest figures were in the south. Blackpool has been struggling to recover economically from a reduction in tourist numbers over the past few decades. Pictured: The resort in 2009 What counts as a premature death? Someone is counted as dying prematurely if they die before the age of 75. Statisticians use age-standardised mortality rates to allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages. The rate is usually per 100,000 population. The only northern location in the best 20 locations was Wetherby and Easingwold (162), located just outside York, which came in 19th place. World-renowned physician Dr Karol Sikora said that, for women, rates above 350 are unacceptably high. Only 34 out of the 575 (5.9 per cent) constituencies in England and Wales fell below this mark. Veena Raleigh, a senior fellow at health charity The King's Fund, believes more needs to be done to fight health inequality. She told MailOnline: 'Mortality in women in this country has for too long been much higher than it should be. 'Our female life expectancy is amongst the lowest of all of Western European and other high income countries. 'In the most deprived areas, between 2010 and the pandemic, life expectancy for women actually fell. 'This is a story of two halves really, between the more and less deprived areas. 'Reducing socio-economic inequalities is critically important for reducing these health inequalities, and targeted action is needed to reduce risk factors such as smoking and obesity. 'It's great that the Government, introduced the sugar tax a while ago. But we need many more targeted interventions to ensure that food manufacturers, for example, reduce the amount of sugar, salt, and fat in ready-made meals.' Premature deaths might happen from illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, injuries, violence and even suicide. The ONS data, which defines a premature death to be anything before 75, does not include Scotland or Northern Ireland. It is also different to life expectancy, which is typically lower in Scotland due to the well-publicised problems of high alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, sedentary behaviour and smoking rates (which are slightly higher than England). Scotland also has the worst drug death rate in Europe, which in 2022 were 2.7 times as high as the rates for England and Northern Ireland, and 2.1 times as high as the 2022 rate in Wales. Blackpool has also long been plagued with widespread drug and alcohol abuse, mental health crises and high suicide rates. These types of deaths have been described by the bleakly poetic phrase 'deaths of despair' by health researchers. A study in 2022 revealed that the UK has some of the most extreme regional health inequalities among developed nations. Think tank The Health Foundation found in a 2020 study that people under 75 living in the poorest tenth of England are around three times more likely to die in the next year than someone of the same age living in the richest tenth. And analysis by Cancer Research UK has suggested that 33,000 extra cases of cancer in the UK each year are associated with deprivation. The charity said that these cases, which is nearly one in 10 (9.1 per cent), could be avoided if health inequalities were tackled. Lung cancer is the leading cause of the extra cases linked to deprivation, mostly because smoking is much more common with those living in deprived areas. They are also more likely to be overweight or obese, which is the second biggest preventable risk factor for cancer after smoking. Deprived people are also less aware of cancer symptoms and also experience more barriers to seeking help – such as getting an appointment at a time that works for them. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'These are not just statistics, but real lives cut short, families devastated, and communities suffering. 'This government inherited a country divided by health inequalities – life chances and life expectancy should not be determined by where you live. 'Through our Plan for Change, we will tackle this head on and deliver on our commitment to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions in England.'
