Premature deaths due to chronic diseases (i15)
- 30/11/2023
- objective
- assessment assessment
In 2020, there were 83.5 deaths in Belgium per 100,000 under-65-year-old inhabitants due to chronic diseases. To achieve the sustainable development goal by 2030, this figure must be reduced to 70.1. This objective will be reached by continuing the trend since 2003 (data available in November 2023). The number of premature deaths due to chronic diseases is therefore developing favourably.
Premature deaths due to chronic diseases - Belgium - trend assessment
number per 100,000 inhabitants of less than 65
| 2000 | 2003 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | 2030 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| observations | -- | 139.7 | 134.6 | 118.0 | 105.2 | 83.5 | -- | -- |
| trend and extrapolation (November 2023) | -- | 140.2 | 134.2 | 119.0 | 102.0 | 84.7 | 73.6 | 67.8 |
| objective 2030 | 70.1 | 70.1 | 70.1 | 70.1 | 70.1 | 70.1 | 70.1 | 70.1 |
Statbel; Eurostat (2023), Causes of death [hlth_cd_asdr, hlth_cd_asdr2], https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat (consulted on 27/09/2023).
Premature deaths due to chronic diseases - Belgium and international comparison
death rate per 100,000 inhabitants of less than 65
| 2003 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2019 | 2020 | 2020//2003 | 2020//2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 139.7 | 134.6 | 118.0 | 105.2 | 86.2 | 83.5 | -3.0 | -4.5 |
| EU27 | 162.5 | 155.6 | 137.8 | 123.4 | 110.9 | 110.0 | -2.3 | -2.3 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | ||||||||
Statbel; Eurostat (2023), Causes of death [hlth_cd_asdr, hlth_cd_asdr2], https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat (consulted on 27/09/2023).
Premature deaths due to chronic diseases by region - Belgium
death rate per 100,000 inhabitants of less than 65
| 2011 | 2015 | 2019 | 2020 | 2020//2011 | 2020//2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels-Capital Region | 117.4 | 101.3 | 87.3 | 83.8 | -3.7 | -3.7 |
| Flemish Region | 101.7 | 91.5 | 76.3 | 71.9 | -3.8 | -4.7 |
| Walloon Region | 137.9 | 128.6 | 103.1 | 103.4 | -3.1 | -4.3 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | ||||||
Statbel; Eurostat (2023), Causes of death [hlth_cd_acdr2], https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat (consulted on 24/03/2023).
Premature deaths due to chronic diseases by sex - Belgium
death rate per 100,000 inhabitants of less than 65
| 2003 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2019 | 2020 | 2020//2003 | 2020//2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| females | 101.6 | 98.9 | 92.1 | 85.5 | 72.6 | 68.4 | -2.3 | -4.4 |
| males | 178.6 | 170.7 | 144.2 | 125.2 | 99.9 | 98.7 | -3.4 | -4.6 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | ||||||||
Statbel; Eurostat (2023), Causes of death [hlth_cd_asdr, hlth_cd_asdr2], https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat (consulted on 27/09/2023).
Definition: the number of premature deaths (before the age of 65) due to chronic diseases per 100,000 inhabitants is calculated on the basis of death certificate data, including deaths due to malignant tumours (C00-C97), diabetes mellitus (E10-E14), ischemic heart diseases (I20-I25), cerebrovascular diseases (I60-I69), chronic lower respiratory diseases (J40-J47) and chronic liver diseases (K70, K73-K74). The codes in brackets are taken from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (CIM-10). Statistics Belgium collects these data in Belgium and makes them available, in particular to Eurostat. The data used here come from Eurostat, which publishes detailed and comparable results between EU Member States (standardised rates). The 65-year threshold was chosen because this indicator is published as such by Eurostat. In the literature, the threshold for premature death is not precisely defined. It also differs from country to country. In Europe, values from 65 and 80 are often used.
Goal: by 2030, the number of premature deaths due to chronic diseases should not exceed 70.1 deaths per 100,000 people under the age of 65.
The Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs adopted by the UN in 2015 include target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.”
This UN target requires to reduce by one third premature deaths among people under 65 by 2030, in comparison with 2015. In 2015, this death rate was 105.2 deaths per 100,000 people under the age of 65. This indicator should thus not exceed 70.1 by 2030.
Moreover, the coalition agreement of the federal government also included a target for Belgium that aimes to reduce the avoidable mortality rate by 15% by 2030 (Federal government, 2020, p.14). This goal does not specifically mention chronic or non-communicable diseases.
International comparison: the number of premature deaths per 100,000 inhabitants is on average higher in Europe than in Belgium. When Member States are divided into three groups, Belgium is part of the group with the best performance in 2020. In that year, Sweden ranked first with 67.4 premature deaths and Hungary last with 223.6.
UN indicator: the selected indicator corresponds to indicator 3.4.1 - Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease.
Sources
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General
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SDGs, Sustainable Development Goals: United Nations (2015), Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015, document A/RES/70/1.
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Indicators: United Nations (2017), Work of the Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 6 July 2017, document A/RES/71/313.
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UN Sustainable Development: https://sdgs.un.org/ (consulted on 18/01/2023).
- UN Sustainable Development Goal indicators website: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/ (consulted on 18/01/2023).
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Specific
- Federal government (2020), Accord de gouvernement du 30 septembre 2020, https://www.belgium.be/sites/default/files/Accord_de_gouvernement_2020.pdf (consulté le 31/10/2023).
Federal Planning Bureau
At www.indicators.be the Federal Planning Bureau presents sustainable development indicators.
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