Issue brief: building momentum in using the avoidable mortality indicators in Canada

ABSTRACT

Over the past three decades, Canada has made substantial progress in reducing the national rate of avoidable mortality (deaths that could potentially have been avoided through disease prevention or healthcare services). In fact, the national avoidable mortality rate has decreased by half ­ from 373 per 100,000 in 1979 to 185 per 100,000 in 2008.(1) During this period, avoidable mortality attributed to preventable causes decreased by 47%, while avoidable mortality attributed to treatable causes decreased by 56%. Additionally, Canada is faring well from an international standpoint, ranking the third lowest amongst G7 nations in rates of avoidable mortality, after Japan and France.(1) However, despite the significant gains that Canada has made in reducing avoidable mortality rates, there still exist variations in the distribution of avoidable mortality across provinces and territories, and across different population groups.(1) Additional efforts are needed to reduce avoidable mortality rates both among the jurisdictions and groups being 'left behind', as well as overall.