ADULTS in Bradford are more likely to die early as a result of preventable conditions than anywhere else in Yorkshire and the Humber, new figures have revealed.

Data released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) suggests that people aged 20 and above lost 12,586 years of life prematurely in 2013, up from 11,360 the previous year.

The figure equates to a rate of 3,865 years per 100,000 of population, the highest in the region, ahead of Kingston Upon Hull at 3,678 years per 100,000, and Scarborough at 3,643 per 100,000.

It is also well above the regional and national averages for 2013 - the latest figures available - which stood at 2,998 per 100,000 population, and 2,809 per 100,000 people, respectively.

The figures are calculated using the difference between the ages people actually die against their potential life expectancy given access to timely and effective healthcare.

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Primary reasons for the premature deaths include cardiovascular disease - such as heart attacks and strokes - respiratory problems, and various forms of cancer.

A spokesman for Bradford Council, which is responsible for public health, said: "The Bradford district faces unique health challenges because of the uniquely diverse nature of the population, and because some wards remain among the most deprived in England.

"We continue to work closely with the NHS locally and with other key partners to find new ways of working to address the district's health issues.

"There is evidence that initiatives to reduce infant mortality and chronic kidney disease have helped to reduce the number of premature deaths.

"We are also supporting Bradford CCGs to implement projects to prevent diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, which are also benefitting local people.

"The council has recently updated its Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and is committed to tackling wider issue such as education, housing and poverty to further reduce health inequalities.

"Our campaigns also highlight the importance of individuals taking responsibility for their own health by making positive lifestyle choices like exercising regularly, drinking in moderation, eating a healthy diet, and stopping smoking."

The HSCIC data also showed that the rate of infant mortality across the Bradford district hit it lowest level in 2013 since at least 1999, with 37 deaths recorded across the year.

The figure equates to a rate of 4.6 deaths per 1,000 births, down from 5.9 per 1,000 in 2012, and 6.4 per 1,000 in 2011.

The rate for Bradford still remains higher than the regional and national averages for 2013, which stood at four deaths per 1,000 births across Yorkshire and the Humber, and 3.8 deaths per 1,000 births in England.

Anita Parkin, director of public health at the Council, Anita Parkin, said: “It is really encouraging to see that babies born in the most deprived areas of Bradford now have a better chance in life because of the initiatives put in place by the Every Baby Matters plan.

"However, every time a new life is lost, it is a tragedy, and there is still a great deal of work to be done to ensure that these figures continue to fall and move closer to the national average in the coming years."