Summary

In 2007, 83% of all premature deaths (that is, deaths among people aged less than 75 years) were due to chronic disease.

The leading cause of chronic disease premature mortality among females was breast cancer, accounting for 12% of years of life lost; among males it was coronary heart disease, accounting for 16% of years of life lost.

Premature mortality from chronic disease among the most socioeconomically disadvantaged males was nearly twice as high as among the least disadvantaged males; among the most socioeconomically disadvantaged females it was 60% higher than the least disadvantaged females.

Of all the premature chronic disease deaths in 2007, more than 3 in 5 (64%) were potentially avoidable.