N.B. Residents’ Shorter Lifespans Linked to Healthcare Access: Report

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New Brunswickers Die Younger Then Other Canadians Due to Preventable and Treatable health Issues

A new report reveals that New Brunswick residents experience shorter lifespans compared to the national average, largely due to treatable diseases going undetected until it’s to late. The findings, released last week by the New Brunswick Health Council, underscore critical gaps in preventative care and disease management within the province.

The study examined approximately 2,000 deaths of individuals under 75 in New Brunswick each year, categorizing them as either preventable – frequently enough linked to lifestyle choices – or treatable, meaning earlier intervention by the healthcare system could have altered the outcome.

Between 2019 and 2021, rates of death from preventable causes were comparable between New Brunswick and the rest of Canada, averaging around 135 deaths per 100,000 people. However, a stark contrast emerged when analyzing treatable conditions. New Brunswick recorded 67 deaths per 100,000 that could have been avoided with timely treatment, exceeding the national average of 61 deaths per 100,000.

Did you know? – New Brunswickers have a life expectancy of 80 years and four months, over a year shorter than the Canadian average of 81 years and six months.

colon Cancer Screening Lags Behind National Standards

Stéphane Robichaud, CEO of the New Brunswick Health Council, highlighted colon cancer as a prime example of delayed treatment. The disease often develops from noncancerous polyps in the colon or rectum,which,if left undetected,can become malignant.Early screening is crucial, particularly for individuals with a family history of the disease.

The standard screening process involves patients over 50 providing a stool sample for laboratory analysis to detect traces of blood, an indicator of potential disease. However, participation rates in New Brunswick significantly trail other provinces.

“The percentage of people who reported having a recent colorectal test in Saskatchewan after they were asked to do so is 68 per cent,” Robichaud explained. “The national average is 49 per cent. And in New Brunswick, it’s only at 35 per cent.” This disparity positions colon cancer as the fourth leading cause of avoidable death in New Brunswick and the top cause of death that could be medically treated with earlier intervention.

Did you know? – Only 35% of New Brunswickers participate in colon cancer screening, compared to a national average of 49% and 68% in Saskatchewan.

Mammogram Participation Also Below Average

Similar concerns exist regarding breast cancer screening among women. Robichaud noted that in alberta, 84% of women aged 50 to 74 have undergone a recent mammogram, compared to a national average of 79%. In new Brunswick, the participation rate is only 68%. Breast cancer ranks as the eighth leading cause of avoidable death for women in the province.

On average, a New Brunswicker can expect to live approximately 80 years and four months, while the average Canadian life expectancy is 81 years and six months – a difference of more than a year. Health experts define premature death as any death occurring before the age of 75.

Did you know? – Lifestyle factors like smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise contribute to roughly half of all avoidable deaths in New Brunswick.

Lifestyle Factors and Preventable Deaths

The study identified the top three preventable causes of death in New Brunswick as lung cancer (294 deaths annually between 2018 and 2022), heart disease (276 deaths), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (137 deaths). Diabetes and stroke rounded out the top six.

These conditions are heavily influenced by lifestyle choices, with smoking, unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity