Cardiovascular disease mortality among First Nations people in Canada, 1991-2001

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Indigenous Health

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a significant health burden globally.
• Understanding disparities in CVD mortality among different populations is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rates between First Nations people and non-Aboriginal adults in Canada.
• To examine these mortality patterns across different sex, income adequacy quintiles, and educational attainment levels.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 15% sample of 1991 Canadian census respondents (aged 25+) linked to 11 years of mortality data.
• Defined First Nations people based on North American Indian ethnic origin, Indian Act registration, and/or band membership.
• Included a cohort of 62,400 First Nations people and 2,624,300 non-Aboriginal people.

Main Results:

• First Nations men had a 30% higher CVD mortality rate, and First Nations women had a 76% higher rate, compared to non-Aboriginal counterparts.
• This translated to an excess of 58 deaths/100,000 person-years for men and 71 deaths/100,000 person-years for women.
• Higher CVD mortality risk for First Nations people persisted across all income and education levels.

Conclusions:

• First Nations people exhibit elevated cardiovascular disease mortality rates compared to non-Aboriginal Canadians, irrespective of socioeconomic status.
• Income and education explained a substantial portion of the excess CVD mortality: 67% for men and 25% for women.
• These findings underscore persistent health inequities faced by First Nations people in Canada.