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Cited by 10Health disparities and outcomesPublic Health and Social InequalitiesGlobal Cancer Incidence and Screening

Socioeconomic inequalities in all-cause and specific-cause mortality in Australia: 1985–1987 and 1995–1997

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Turrell, Gavin, Mathers, Colin·2001·International Journal of Epidemiology
DOI 10.1093/ije/30.2.231
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic inequalities in mortality have been repeatedly observed in Britain, the US, and Europe, and in some countries there is evidence that the differentials are widening. This study describes trends in socioeconomic mortality inequality in Australia for males and females aged 0-14, 15-24 and 25-64 years over the period 1985-1987 to 1995-1997. METHODS: Socioeconomic status (SES) was operationalized using the Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage, an area-based measure developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Mortality differentials were examined using age-standardized rates, and mortality inequality was assessed using rate ratios, gini coefficients, and a measure of excess mortality. RESULTS: For both periods, and for each sex/age subgroup, death rates were highest in the most disadvantaged areas. The extent and nature of socioeconomic mortality inequality differed for males and females and for each age group: both increases and decreases in mortality inequality were observed, and for some causes, the degree of inequality remained unchanged. If it were possible to reduce death rates among the SES areas to a level equivalent to that of the least disadvantaged area, premature all-cause mortality for males in each age group would be lower by 22%, 28% and 26% respectively, and for females, 35%, 70% and 56%. CONCLUSIONS: The mortality burden in the Australian population attributable to socioeconomic inequality is large, and has profound and far-reaching implications in terms of the unnecessary loss of life, the loss of potentially economically productive members of society, and increased costs for the health care system.

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  • Higher morbidity and mortality rates for the socioeconomically disadvantaged are still found.

    “In spite of marked health improvements of the overall population and efforts to overcome health inequalities, higher morbidity and mortality rates for the socioeconomically disadvantaged are still found.(1, 2, 3, 4)”

    From Socio-economic status of the patient and doctor–patient communication: does it make a difference? (2005) · cites this paper as [3]

    The Mortality rates section reports that, despite overall declines from 1985–1987 to 1995–1997, death rates remained typically highest in the most disadvantaged Australian areas. The paper examines mortality, but the passages do not establish higher morbidity rates; that part of the claim is unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Research works printed but not linked: 29

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Authors
Turrell, G., & Mathers, C.
Affiliations
  • Queensland University of Technology (AU)
  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AU)
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Epidemiology
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2001-04
Volume
30
Issue
2
Pages
231-239
ISSN
  • 0300-5771 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-3685
DOI
10.1093/ije/30.2.231
OpenAlex
W1571837153
Cited by
10
References
0
Citations by year
2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
0.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
  • Centre for Health Research; Faculty of Health; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Health › Public Health and Social Inequalities
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
Keywords
socioeconomic inequalities in mortality, all-cause mortality, cause-specific mortality, premature mortality, excess mortality, sex differences, age groups, underserved areas, Australia
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Australia, Cause of Death, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Income, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Residence Characteristics, Socioeconomic Factors, Models, Statistical, Poisson Distribution, Age Distribution, Sex Distribution

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