People living in Brighton and Hove have a greater risk of dying early than anywhere else in Sussex.

A league table of premature death rates for under 75-yearolds has revealed a postcode lottery in the county.

The Longer Lives website from Public Health England ranks local authorities by using a traffic light system, ranging from red for the worst areas to green for the best.

Early death rates for cancer, liver disease, lung disease and heart disease and stroke were assessed and an overall rating giving.

Brighton and Hove was given a red score, ranking it 98th out of 150 local authorities.

It recorded 2,185 deaths over a two-year period, giving it a rate of 301 per 100,000 of the population.

Liver disease The city had lower than average numbers of deaths from heart disease and stroke but deaths caused by liver disease and cancer were high.

Avoidable

There are high levels of deprivation in some parts of the city and research has shown that people living in these areas will often have more health problems linked to behaviours like poor diet, drinking and smoking.

Brighton and Hove also has higher than average numbers of people admitted to hospital with alcohol-related illnesses.

The city’s director of public health, Tom Scanlon, said: “This report reinforces the message first put out in last year’s public health annual report – namely that there are significant avoidable deaths in the city.

“While rates of coronary heart disease and stroke are better than similar local authorities, overall rates are relatively high compared to the rest of the country.”

East and West Sussex, which both have larger, more affluent populations, were both given a green rating.

West Sussex was ranked 23rd out of 150 local authorities and East Sussex 48th.

Deprivation However both counties have pockets of deprivation in towns such as in Hastings and Littlehampton, which public health teams are targeting in particular.

Public Health England centre director for Sussex, Graham Bickler, said the new website presented an important picture of health in local areas – where it is good and where there is more to do – so everyone involved could consider and agree how to make improvements.

He said: “The evidence is clear – a person’s likelihood of dying prematurely from one of the top four killers varies widely between local authorities due to differences in risk factors and that social deprivation and smoking are the most important factors.”