Evolution of Life Expectancy and Health Equity in Canadian Health Regions from 1986 to 2007

Background: Life expectancy (LE) analysis was conducted in this study as an indicator to explore time trend for Canadians mortality rate from 1986 to 2007 by age and sex. Detect the factors that can impact on this, and measure the quality of life for Canadians. Objective: Measure Canadian’s LE by age, sex, provinces/territories and health regions, detect shorter LE in Canada due to variant lifestyle and socioeconomic status, compare the difference of Canadian LE among these areas over time. Results: Canadians’ LE at birth has increased 3.2 years in 1986-2007 in women, and 5.2 years in men. LE in British Columbia and Ontario were 81.2 and 81.0, higher than the average in Canada (80.7) in 2007. However, the highest increase of LE was PEI, 4.3 years higher than national average (4.2) level. Three top longest LE were Richmond Health Service Delivery Area (BC), York Regional Health Unit (ON), and Peel Regional Health Unit (ON) in compared to the three shortest LE Region du Nunavik (QC), Burntwood/Churchill (MB), and Nunavut Territory in both sexes. Conclusion: LE is lower for males than females, and shorter in the North than in the South due to poor living conditions, lack of primary health care, higher rates of smoking and heavy drinking and obesity, higher levels of longterm unemployment, fewer high school and university graduates, a relatively larger Aboriginal population and are generally rural and remote.