[Premature mortality in France: relative importance of the main causes of death according to the number of years of life lost].

The importance of major causes of deaths in France have been studied for 1972 and 1982, using years of potential life lost before age 65 and in relation to life expectancy. These indicators of premature mortality have been compared to death rates. Unintentional injuries and malignant neoplasms are the two main causes of mortality before age 65. There is an important excess mortality for males, particularly for unintentional injuries. Total premature mortality declined between 1972 and 1982, but cancer mortality for males and suicide and chronic bronchitis mortality for both sexes have increased. Cardiac mortality decreased only for females.