Premature deaths due to chronic diseases (i15)

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.