Patterns of mortality across 44 countries among men and women aged 15–44 years

BackgroundThis epidemiological study is the first to explore patterns of mortality in young men and women (aged 15–44 years) worldwide. Its purpose was to chart differing national/regional patterns to illuminate causal factors of death in young men.MethodsData from the new World Health Organisation Statistical Information Services Mortality Database was analysed for patterns of premature death in men and women aged 15–44 years across 44 countries. Rates of death from all causes were compared between men and women and the number of deaths calculated as a proportion of total deaths for each country. The study focused on six potentially avoidable categories of death: Accidents and Adverse Effects, Suicide, Malignant Neoplasms, Diseases of the Circulatory System, Homicide and Injury Purposely Inflicted by Other Persons, and Chronic Liver Disease & Cirrhosis.ResultsRates of death varied between countries and between men and women. The causes of death for both men and women differed markedly between the age groups 15–34 years and 35–44 years. Men's higher rates of deaths for Accidents and Adverse Effects persisted across all the age groups but deaths resulting from disease processes rose rapidly in the age group 35–44 years.ConclusionsEvery country has an excess of male deaths due to potentially avoidable causes. The main causes of death are those that are more or less directly attributable to lifestyle and risk taking. More research is required but policy makers and health practitioners should already start to use the available data to develop better-targeted healthcare services for young men.