Canadian Forces cancer and mortality study: Causes of death

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The new report, Canadian Forces Cancer and Mortality Study: Causes of Death, which examines the causes of death among current and former Canadian military personnel, is part of a collaborative effort by the Department of National Defence, Veterans Affairs Canada and Statistics Canada.

The study is based on a cohort of individuals who enrolled and served in Canada's Regular Force at some point between January 1972 and December 2006. The mortality rates of these individuals are compared with those of the general Canadian population.

In general, the study found that men and women with a history of military service had a lower risk of death compared with the general population, although there were some exceptions. For example, compared with the general population, men in the military cohort had an increased risk of dying in an air transport accident, while men who had left the forces before December 31, 2006, were more likely to have died from suicide.

The report Canadian Forces Cancer and Mortality Study: Causes of Death (82-584-X, free) is now available from the Key resource module of our website under Publications.

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Client Services (613-951-1746; hd-ds@statcan.gc.ca), Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada.

For more information, contact the Media Liaison Office (toll-free 1-866-377-0811), Department of National Defence, or Media Relations (613-992-7468), Veterans Affairs Canada.