Premature death is effectively death resulting from something other than old age. Causes of premature death include disease (e.g. cancer, heart disease), murder, suicide and malnutrition.

However the definition of old age (and so premature death) is not precise. Despite old age being a recognised cause of death, its use in death certificates can be inconsistent. Some would say that old age begins at 65: the UK State Pension Age, whilst others would argue that old age begins when one is approaching the average life expectancy – i.e. at age 75 or 80 perhaps.

The latter meaning is a useful reference point for other quantities like rates of mortality improvements, which have tended to be higher at younger ages than in old age, or as a geriatric. In the interests of using a common language, National Statistics’ definition of premature death as a lifespan of less than 75 years, seems a sensible reference point.