Figure 11 describes trends in premature mortality rates (in those under 75 years) from all causes, and two of the main causes of death in the under 75s, cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) and cancer. As the numbers of deaths by cause in those under 75 is relatively small and subject to significant variation year to year, the data are considered on a three-year rolling average basis. There was a steady reduction in the rate of deaths in those under 75 years. From the period 2001 to 2003, rates for overall premature mortality reduced by 28% for males and 24% for females by 2014 to 2016. Reductions in overall premature mortality, however, slowed down from 2011 to 2013 for both sexes (Figure 11). Mortality rates from cardiovascular disease in those under 75 have almost halved from 2001 to 2003 (Figure 9).
However, from 2014 to 2016, over 100,000 people under 75 years died from cardiovascular disease which accounted for around 22% of all premature deaths[footnote 7]. The Health Profile for England 2017 reported that behavioural risk factors such as poor diet, smoking and low physical activity, along with high blood pressure, high body mass index and high cholesterol are the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Therefore a large proportion of these premature deaths are preventable[footnote 8],[footnote 9]. Chapter 3 presents information on trends in these risk factors. Mortality rates from cancer in the under 75s have been falling year on year in both sexes and have reduced by 21% in males and 17% in females since the period 2001 to 2003. When all cancers are combined, they were the largest cause of death in persons under 75, responsible for nearly 187,500 deaths in the period 2014 to 2016. Like cardiovascular disease, behavioural risk factors contribute significantly to the risk of cancer, the largest contributor being smoking[footnote 9]. Figure 11: trend in the age-standardised mortality rate in people aged under 75 years, males and females, 2001 to 2003 to 2014 to 2016, England
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Premature mortality
Premature mortality from cardiovascular disease
Premature mortality from cancer