Fact sheet: major causes of death in Canada, 1993-1995.

Mortality is one of many summary indicators of disease burden. The following tables and graphs display the relative contributions and geographic variability of major conditions causing mortality in Canada. Rates are age-standardized to permit comparison of the relative impact of different conditions in populations with differing age structures. Identifying such geographic variation can help generate hypotheses about explanations for these differences and identify areas for further investigation. It can also contribute to an estimate of the scope for prevention and provide realistic and achievable targets for programs and policies intended to reduce disease burden, in that the lowest rate seen for each condition is clearly achievable under current Canadian conditions.