Table 3 Top 10 causes of death of premature death (before 75 years of age) in men and their evolution over time in most and least deprived areas in Belgium (1998–2019)

Premature mortality (men)

1998–2003

865.72

(857.4-874.03)

474.83

(467.19-482.47)

390.89

82.32%

1.82

(1.79–1.85)

< 0.001

2014–2019

647.80

(641.35-654.26)

301.79

(294.95-308.63)

346.01

114.65%

2.15

(2.10–2.20)

< 0.001

Absolute difference

-217.92

-173.04

Relative difference

-25.17

-36.44%

Ischemic heart disease

1998–2003

108.34

(104.98-111.72)

68.05

(64.74–71.35)

40.30

59.22%

1.59

(1.51–1.65)

< 0.001

2014–2019

56.60

(54.37–58.83)

22.86

(21.00-24.71)

33.74

147.60%

2.48

(2.29–2.68)

< 0.001

Absolute difference

-51.74

-45.19

Relative difference

-47.76

-66.41%

Lung cancer

1998–2003

104.41

(101.09-107.73)

68.07

(64.74–71.38)

36.34

53.38%

1.53

(1.45–1.60)

< 0.001

2014–2019

72.06

(69.54–74.58)

38.20

(35.81–40.60)

33.85

88.61%

1.89

(1.77–2.01)

< 0.001

Absolute difference

-32.35

-29.87

Relative difference

-30.99

-43.88%

Neoplasm of digestive system

1998–2003

61.34

(58.79–63.88)

50.39

(47.57–53.21)

10.95

21.73%

1.21

(1.14–1.29)

< 0.001

2014–2019

59.36

(57.07–61.65)

37.86

(35.49–40.23)

21.50

56.81%

1.57

(1.46–1.68)

< 0.001

Absolute difference

-1.98

-12.53

Relative difference

-3.22

-24.86%

Chronic lung disease

1998–2003

57.20

(54.72–59.67)

20.27

(18.40-22.15)

36.93

182.19%

2.82

(2.59–2.99)

< 0.001

2014–2019

34.07

(32.30-35.85)

9.97

(8.72–11.22)

24.10

241.73%

3.42

(3.06–3.82)

< 0.001

Absolute difference

-23.13

-10.30

Relative difference

-40.44

-50.81%

Accidents

1998–2003

36.75

(34.99–38.51)

17.27

(15.77–18.76)

19.48

112.79%

2.12

(1.95–2.31)

< 0.001

2014–2019

33.32

(31.75–34.89)

13.79

(12.31–15.27)

19.53

141.62%

2.42

(2.19–2.66)

< 0.001

Absolute difference

-3.43

-3.48

Relative difference

-9.3

-20.15%

Cerebrovascular heart disease (Stroke)

1998–2003

36.08

(34.12–38.03)

23.46

(21.49–25.43)

12.62

53.79%

1.54

(1.40–1.65)

< 0.001

2014–2019

23.98

(21.49–25.43)

11.34

(9.98–12.7)

12.64

111.46%

2.11

(1.88–2.38)

< 0.001

Absolute difference

-12.10

-12.12

Relative difference

-33.54

-51.66%

Chronic liver disease

1998–2003

29.23

(27.53–30.93)

9.98

(8.76–11.20)

19.25

192.88%

2.93

(2.61–3.25)

< 0.001

2014–2019

25.34

(23.91–26.77)

9.29

(8.13–10.45)

16.05

172.76%

2.73

(2.43–3.06)

< 0.001

Absolute difference

-3.89

-0.69

Relative difference

-13.30%

-6.91%

Intentional self-harm

1998–2003

29.61

(28.03–31.20)

14.50

(13.14–15.85)

15.11

104.21%

2.04

(1.85–2.25)

< 0.001

2014–2019

21.78

(20.55-23.00)

18.56

(16.88–20.24)

3.22

17.35%

1.17

(1.06–1.30)

< 0.001

Absolute difference

-7.83

4.06

Relative difference

-26.44%

28.00%

Influenza & Pneumonia

1998–2003

17.06

(15.72–18.41)

9.49

(8.17–10.80)

7.57

79.78%

1.80

(1.55–2.02)

< 0.001

2014–2019

13.93

(12.80-15.06)

5.26

(4.29–6.22)

8.67

164.82%

2.65

(2.24–3.13)

< 0.001

Absolute difference

-3.13

-4.23

Relative difference

-18.35

-44.57%

Neoplasm of urinary system

1998–2003

14.56

(13.31–15.82)

12.51

(11.08–13.93)

2.05

16.39%

1.16

(1.01–1.31)

< 0.001

2014–2019

12.29

(11.23–13.36)

9.32

(8.11–10.54)

2.97

31.87%

1.32

(1.13–1.53)

< 0.001

Absolute difference

-2.27

-3.19

Relative difference

-15.60

-25.49%