title: Impact of homicide and traffic crashes on life expectancy in the largest Latin American country.
abstract: Brazil and Canada are on opposite poles of the spectrum for life expectancy in America. We identified factors underlying Brazil's lower life expectancy relative to Canada, with emphasis on the role of injury compared with other major causes.
  
  
  
  We computed life expectancy at birth in Brazil and Canada in 2010 and identified the ages and causes of death responsible for the gap between both countries. The main outcome measure was the contribution of homicide and traffic accidents to the gap, compared with other causes of death.
  
  
  
  Relative to Canada, life expectancy was lower in Brazil by 8.2 years (men) and 5.2 years (women). Injury lowered life expectancy of men in Brazil by 2.2 years, or more than a quarter of the gap, mainly due to homicide and traffic accidents between ages 20 and 64 years. Homicide and traffic accidents contributed more than all circulatory diseases combined. In women, circulatory disease was the most important cause of lower life expectancy.
  
  
  
  In 2010, homicides and traffic accidents were the principal cause for short life expectancy of men in Brazil. Improving life expectancy in Brazil requires addressing the root causes of inequalities that drive illicit drug trade, violence and accidents.
authors: Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montreal, QC, Canada University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Auger
authors: Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montreal, QC, Canada Institut de Démographie de l'Université Paris 1, Université Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris, France.
authors: Emilie
authors: E
authors: Le Serbon
authors: Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Rasella
authors: Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: Rosana
authors: R
authors: Aquino
authors: Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: Maurício L
authors: ML
authors: Barreto
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Brazil; Canada; accidents, traffic; homicide; life expectancy; mortality; violence