Life expectancy has improved for both men and women in Canada, at an average of four years gained since 1990, according to a new study published in The Lancet.
The study was conducted by an international consortium of researchers coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. Dr. Carolyn Gotay, Professor in the UBC School of Population and Public Health, Canadian Cancer Society Chair in Cancer Primary Prevention, and Director of the Cancer Prevention Centre, was a part of the team of scientists who updated the estimates, which were last available in 2010.
The researchers found that globally, people live an average of 6.2 years longer than they did in 1990, with a life expectancy rising to just under 72 years in 2013. In Canada, the average life expectancy for women was 83.4 years in 2013, with men living an average of 79.4 years. By contrast, women lived an average of 80.6 years and men had a life expectancy of 74.2 years in 1990. Out of the 188 countries included in the study, Canada ranked 17th for women and 13th for men for longest life expectancies.
The study also showed that lung cancer is the third leading cause of death in Canada, despite it being one of the most preventable cancers. Colorectal and breast cancer are also in the top 10 leading causes of death in Canada. About half of cancers could potentially be prevented by modifying lifestyles to reduce risk factors, such as stopping or not smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight, eating a healthy diet containing plenty of vegetables and fruits, avoiding alcohol, and being physically active. Many of these lifestyle factors can also prevent or help reduce the risk for many of the other leading causes of death, including stroke, diabetes, and ischemic heart disease—the number one leading cause of death in Canada.
Other faculty members at the UBC School of Population and Public Health who contributed to this international study include: Drs. Michael Brauer, Farshad Pourmalek, and Hans Krueger, who is also a member of the Cancer Prevention Centre.
- What you can do to reduce your risk for cancer.
- Read the full paper, which was published in The Lancet on December 18, 2014.