Community Health Status Report
Issue Number 3 - December 1994
SUMMARY
The major causes of death in Renfrew County and
District, accounting for 85% of the 800 deaths each year are heart
disease, cancer, respiratory disease and injuries. The major causes
of premature death as indicated by Potential Years of Life Lost are
injuries, heart disease and cancer. Male rates of PYLL exceed female
rates for each of the three. Cancer is the major cause of premature
death for women.
Heart disease is the leading cause .of death
accounting for 360 deaths each year. Nearly as many women as men die
of heart disease, but men die at younger ages. The second major
cause of death is cancer which causes 200 deaths each year. Before
age 45, cancer death rates are higher in women; after age 45 they
are higher in men. Overall more men than women die of cancer each
year .
Injuries are a major cause of death accounting for
50 deaths each year. Although they account for only about 7% of all
deaths, they are important as a cause of premature mortality,
contributing 25% of all PYLL in our community each year. Injury
death rates for males generally range from two to four times higher
than female rates.
There are a number of significant differences
between mortality rates in Renfrew County and District and Ontario
which account for the higher mortality rates from all causes which
were highlighted in the previous report. These differences include:
- higher death rates for all heart disease, heart
attack and stroke .men and women here die of heart disease at
younger ages .men and women here die of cancer at younger ages
- higher death rates for all injuries, motor
vehicle accidents and suicides
- there are more potential years of life lost
here due to all injuries, motor vehicle
- accidents and suicides
Some of the reasons for these differences will be
explored in our next report. An
interesting question raised by this report is whether life
expectancy is lower for Renfrew
County and District residents than residents of Ontario. The
Ministry of Health
has no published data on this at the present time, but they agreed
to look into it for us. Results will be presented in a future
report.
