The Premature Mortality 2014-2016 report, which was published yesterday, shows that premature mortality – defined as someone dying under the age of 75 – over the three years was 304 per 100,000 population per year. The figure means Jersey ranks among the best
when compared to English regions.
During the period, one in every three deaths in Jersey was classed as premature. Lung cancer accounted for more than 50 deaths per year in Jersey – a ‘significantly worse’ rate when compared to the average for England. And almost half of all cancer deaths in Jersey between those years occurred in the under-75 age group.
According to the report, Jersey is also ‘significantly better’ than the English average for premature deaths from heart disease and stroke, ranking 20 out of 151 regions.
And it also had a similar average rate to England for deaths from injuries – which include transport accidents, falls, drownings and poisonings due to drugs and alcohol. During the three-year period 12 deaths were attributed to injury. Three-quarters of those were male and three-quarters linked to drugs.
The report says that between 2014 and 2016 cancer was responsible for about 115 to 135 premature deaths each year.
Although the premature death rate for cancer in Jersey was similar to the average for England, the rates of death from lung cancer were ‘significantly worse’.
The report states: ‘Comparing Jersey on a like-for-like basis shows that Jersey was amongst the worst areas when compared to English regions, ranking 118 out of 151 areas.
‘The Jersey standardised rate was significantly worse than the average rate for England (72 per 100,000 population compared to 58 per 100,000 respectively).’ Knowsley ranked the worst with 110 deaths per 100,000.
The report adds that the main cause of overall premature mortality for Jersey women was cancer, particularly lung, breast, cervical, pancreatic and colonic cancer.
For men, the main cause was lung cancer followed by prostate cancer and heart disease.
