Socioeconomic inequalities in cause specific mortality among older people in France

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>European comparative studies documented a clear North-South divide in socioeconomic inequalities with cancer being the most important contributor to inequalities in total mortality among middle aged men in Latin Europe (France, Spain...

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Main Authors: Chastang Jean-François, Leclerc Annette, Menvielle Gwenn, Luce Danièle
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2010-05-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/260
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author Chastang Jean-François
Leclerc Annette
Menvielle Gwenn
Luce Danièle
author_facet Chastang Jean-François
Leclerc Annette
Menvielle Gwenn
Luce Danièle
author_sort Chastang Jean-François
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>European comparative studies documented a clear North-South divide in socioeconomic inequalities with cancer being the most important contributor to inequalities in total mortality among middle aged men in Latin Europe (France, Spain, Portugal, Italy). The aim of this paper is to investigate educational inequalities in mortality by gender, age and causes of death in France, with a special emphasis on people aged 75 years and more.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used data from a longitudinal population sample that includes 1% of the French population. Risk of death (total and cause specific) in the period 1990-1999 according to education was analysed using Cox regression models by age group (45-59, 60-74, and 75+). Inequalities were quantified using both relative (ratio) and absolute (difference) measures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Relative inequalities decreased with age but were still observed in the oldest age group. Absolute inequalities increased with age. This increase was particularly pronounced for cardiovascular diseases. The contribution of different causes of death to absolute inequalities in total mortality differed between age groups. In particular, the contribution of cancer deaths decreased substantially between the age groups 60-74 years and 75 years and more, both in men and in women.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study suggests that the large contribution of cancer deaths to the excess mortality among low educated people that was observed among middle aged men in Latin Europe is not observed among French people aged 75 years and more. This should be confirmed among other Latin Europe countries.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-8b85ca491f4548e380a7c997f8e31df82022-12-21T23:34:20ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582010-05-0110126010.1186/1471-2458-10-260Socioeconomic inequalities in cause specific mortality among older people in FranceChastang Jean-FrançoisLeclerc AnnetteMenvielle GwennLuce Danièle<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>European comparative studies documented a clear North-South divide in socioeconomic inequalities with cancer being the most important contributor to inequalities in total mortality among middle aged men in Latin Europe (France, Spain, Portugal, Italy). The aim of this paper is to investigate educational inequalities in mortality by gender, age and causes of death in France, with a special emphasis on people aged 75 years and more.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used data from a longitudinal population sample that includes 1% of the French population. Risk of death (total and cause specific) in the period 1990-1999 according to education was analysed using Cox regression models by age group (45-59, 60-74, and 75+). Inequalities were quantified using both relative (ratio) and absolute (difference) measures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Relative inequalities decreased with age but were still observed in the oldest age group. Absolute inequalities increased with age. This increase was particularly pronounced for cardiovascular diseases. The contribution of different causes of death to absolute inequalities in total mortality differed between age groups. In particular, the contribution of cancer deaths decreased substantially between the age groups 60-74 years and 75 years and more, both in men and in women.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study suggests that the large contribution of cancer deaths to the excess mortality among low educated people that was observed among middle aged men in Latin Europe is not observed among French people aged 75 years and more. This should be confirmed among other Latin Europe countries.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/260
spellingShingle Chastang Jean-François
Leclerc Annette
Menvielle Gwenn
Luce Danièle
Socioeconomic inequalities in cause specific mortality among older people in France
BMC Public Health
title Socioeconomic inequalities in cause specific mortality among older people in France
title_full Socioeconomic inequalities in cause specific mortality among older people in France
title_fullStr Socioeconomic inequalities in cause specific mortality among older people in France
title_full_unstemmed Socioeconomic inequalities in cause specific mortality among older people in France
title_short Socioeconomic inequalities in cause specific mortality among older people in France
title_sort socioeconomic inequalities in cause specific mortality among older people in france
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/260
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AT menviellegwenn socioeconomicinequalitiesincausespecificmortalityamongolderpeopleinfrance
AT lucedaniele socioeconomicinequalitiesincausespecificmortalityamongolderpeopleinfrance