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Potential years of life lost at ages 25 to 74 among Métis and non-Status Indians, 1991 to 2001

Publication: Health Reports 2011:22(1) www.statcan.gc.ca/healthreports

Authors: Michael Tjepkema, Russell Wilkins, Sacha Senécal, Éric Guimond and Christopher Penney

Data: 1991 to 2001 Canadian census mortality follow-up study

Métis and non-Status Indian adults were about twice as likely as non-Aboriginal adults to die prematurely (before the age of 75) between 1991 and 2001.

Deaths before age 75, and the potential years of life that are lost as a consequence, highlight the societal cost of early deaths.  These premature deaths reflect the disproportionate burden of illness and disease among Métis and non-Status Indians. 

Among Métis and non-Status Indian men, the excess potential years of life lost were 6,000 and 5,500 per 100,000 person-years at risk, respectively.  About
two-thirds of the excess among Métis men was due to injuries, particularly road traffic accidents and drowning, and one-quarter was due to chronic diseases, notably, cardiovascular diseases.  Among non-Status Indian men, injuries accounted for 48% of the excess, and chronic diseases, 45%.

The excess in potential years of life lost was 3,000 per 100,000 person-years at risk for Métis women and 5,700 for non-Status Indian women.  More than half the excess in both groups was due to chronic diseases.  Injuries accounted for 27% of excess for Métis women and 29% for non-Status Indian women; and communicable diseases, for 13% and 12%, respectively.

Compared to non-Aboriginal adults, Métis and non-Status Indians had lower levels of educational attainment and were more likely to be unemployed and to be in the lowest income quintile. These socio-economic factors explained a substantial share of disparities in premature mortality.

Full article

For more information about this article, contact Michael Tjepkema (1-613-951-3896; michael.tjepkema@statcan.gc.ca), Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada.