Category: Commentary, Critique, and Response

Facts, now that I’m out of a meeting:

–“Adjusting for race, a 2002-03 Joint Canada/U.S. Survey of Health found that health-related quality of life (HRQL) scores were similar for white populations in both countries, suggesting race-specific disparities in the U.S. (e.g., higher mortality for African Americans) contribute to the overall gap. For example, African Americans have higher mortality rates for eight of the top ten causes of death compared to other U.S. groups, which pulls down the national average.”–

BTW: same causality applies for US violence and crime versus europe. The US have less petty crime as well.

–“Drug-related deaths, particularly from opioids, significantly affect U.S. life expectancy more than Canada’s. In 2019, the U.S. had a drug overdose death rate of 21.6 per 100,000 (CDC), compared to Canada’s 17.2 per 100,000 (Canadian Vital Statistics Database). Fentanyl drives much of this, with over 75% of Canadian opioid deaths involving it post-2020, often mixed with psychostimulants like methamphetamine. In the U.S., Black Americans face disproportionate overdose rates (e.g., 36.8 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic Black men in 2020 vs. 31.9 for white men), linked to socioeconomic stressors and unequal access to treatment, not just healthcare system differences.”–

–“Workplace fatalities have a minor impact on lifespan differences. In 2019, the U.S. had a workplace fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 workers (BLS), compared to Canada’s 2.5 per 100,000 (AWC, 2019). The difference is small and unlikely to significantly affect overall life expectancy. Racial data is limited, but U.S. Black and Hispanic workers face higher risks in hazardous industries (e.g., construction, agriculture)”–

—“Suicide rates are higher in U.S. (14.5 per 100,000 in 2020) than Canada (11.8 per 100,000 in 2018). However, U.S. rates are inflated by firearm suicides (50% of U.S. suicides vs. 14% in Canada), tied to higher gun ownership. Adjusting for means, non-firearm suicide rates are closer. … In Canada, Indigenous groups have starkly higher suicide rates (e.g., First Nations youth 6 times non-Indigenous rates). In the U.S., Native Americans have the highest suicide rates (16.8 per 100,000), followed by white (15.3) and Black (7.2) populations (CDC, 2020).”–

–“Self-care (e.g., diet, exercise, medical adherence) varies by race and socioeconomic status, not directly by healthcare system.”–

—“The lifespan gap (Canada: 81.3 years, U.S.: 77.5 years) isn’t primarily driven by healthcare systems. U.S. drug overdoses (21.6 vs. 17.2 per 100,000) and firearm suicides (50% vs. 14% of suicides) are bigger factors, tied to socioeconomic disparities and gun availability, not just healthcare. … Racial disparities (e.g., higher U.S. Black mortality) reflect social determinants, not direct healthcare causality.”—