PREMATURE MORTALITY IN ABORIGINAL ADULTS IN THE NORTHERN-TERRITORY, 1979-1991

Objective: To identify important causes of premature mortality among A boriginal adults in the Northern Territory (NT), 1979-1991. Methods: A ll deaths of NT Aboriginal residents aged 15-64 years which occurred i n the NT between 1979 and 1991 and which were recorded by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages were included. Standardised mortality ratios (SRnRs) were used to compare the number of deaths observed amo ng Aboriginals in the NT to those expected, based on overall Australia n rates. Years of potential life lost before age 65 (YPLL(65)) were es timated for specific causes of death. Results: Aboriginal women (overa ll SMR, 5.5) and Aboriginal men (SMR, 4.7) experienced a high burden o f excess mortality from almost every cause of death. This excess incre ased over time, especially for Aboriginal women. Among Aboriginal men, the most important causes of premature death were motor vehicle accid ents (11% of excess deaths and 17% of YPLL(65)), ischaemic heart disea se (10% of excess deaths and 10% of YPLL(65)), pneumonia and influenza (8% of excess deaths and 6% of YPLL(65)), and homicide (7% of excess deaths and 8% of YPLL(65)). For Aboriginal women, the most important c auses included homicide (7% of excess deaths and 11% of YPLL(65)), chr onic obstructive pulmonary disease (10% of excess deaths and 5% of YPL L(65)), rheumatic heart disease (7% of excess deaths and 8% of YPLL(65 )), and ischaemic heart disease (6% of excess deaths and 5% of YPLL(65 )). Conclusions: The wide variety of causes of excess mortality will r equire an equally wide variety of solutions, both medical and non-medi cal, and a long term commitment will be necessary to achieve reduction s in premature mortality among NT Aboriginal adults.