Mortality among First Nations people, 2006 to 2016

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Indigenous Health

Background:

• First Nations people face a shorter life expectancy.
• Higher rates of premature death from preventable causes are reported in First Nations populations compared to non-Indigenous counterparts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To calculate and compare death rates for First Nations (on- and off-reserve) and non-Indigenous populations.
• To analyze mortality differences over a 10-year period using the 2006 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort (CanCHEC).

Main Methods:

• Utilized the 2006 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort (CanCHEC) data.
• Calculated age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) by sex, age, and region for a 10-year follow-up.
• Compared mortality rates between on-reserve First Nations, off-reserve First Nations, and the non-Indigenous population.

Main Results:

• First Nations people exhibited higher ASMRs than the non-Indigenous population.
• On-reserve First Nations people had higher ASMRs than off-reserve First Nations people.
• Excess mortality in First Nations people was attributed to diabetes, heart disease, chronic liver disease, unintentional injuries, and intentional injuries, with greater disparities in younger age groups.

Conclusions:

• First Nations people experience significantly higher mortality rates across various causes compared to non-Indigenous populations.
• Mortality differentials are more pronounced among younger First Nations individuals.
• Understanding excess mortality requires detailed analysis of specific causes within distinct demographic groups (age, sex, reserve status, region).