North has higher rate of avoidable deaths than national average

The number of avoidable deaths in the North is much higher than in the rest of Canada, according to new data released by the Canadian Institute of Health Information.

The institute says an avoidable death is one caused by a preventable or treatable disease.

"Deaths associated with preventable causes are more-so driven with what we call social determinants, or lifestyle choices — obesity, smoking, drinking — than the deaths associated with treatable causes," said Kira Leeb with the Canadian Institute of Health Information.

"And the treatable causes are really related a little bit more to how the health care system is responding to an illness."

Yukon and the Northwest Territories both have 40 per cent more avoidable deaths than the national average.

In Nunavut the rate of avoidable deaths is twice the national average.

Kira Leeb, director of health system performance with CIHI, says the goal is to shine a spotlight on some aspects of health care in different regions. 

"And hopefully identifying areas where they're doing well as well as others are doing well that they can learn from. 

Leeb points out that Nunavut is doing an average job overall compared to other regions.

For instance, Nunavut is above average in physical activity.

No jurisdiction is above average on all 37 factors.

Leeb says all provinces and territories need to pay attention to some aspect of their health care.

The information is available on a new website comparing Canadian regions on 37 health indicators ranging from lifestyle to serious health problems.