Early deaths avoidable
More Australian men than women die prematurely – before the age of 75 – each year, with cancer the main cause of avoidable deaths, according to an Adelaide study reported in the Australian and New Zealand Atlas of Avoidable Mortality.
In total there are 40,000 premature deaths, which could be prevented if people stopped smoking, lost weight and had better access to health care, the report found. After cancer, other major causes of avoidable deaths were cardiovascular diseases and accidental deaths, such as car crashes.
The rates were highest in the Northern Territory, followed by Tasmania and Queensland. Seventy three percent of male deaths were considered avoidable but only 69.9% of female deaths were. From 1997-2003 an estimated 3.3 million total years of life were lost to avoidable mortality.
![Dandenong Mayor [left] stands next to aged care resident and aged care staff member](https://agedcareguide-assets.imgix.net/news/articles/wp/belv__2204.jpg?fm=pjpg&w=370)
![Dandenong Mayor [left] stands next to aged care resident and aged care staff member](https://agedcareguide-assets.imgix.net/news/articles/wp/belv__2204.jpg?fm=pjpg&w=520&format=auto&q=65)
