This seminar presents findings from a study concerning social inequalities in avoidable mortality using data from the ONS Longitudinal Study – a large cohort (N=360,000) from the 1971 Census (from England and Wales only) followed up for 35 years with underlying cause of death taken from matched death registration records.
Avoidable mortality is defined as either preventable causes of death or causes of death amenable to medical intervention. These are operationalised using ICD8, ICD9 and ICD10 codes. Socio-economic position is measured by the former official classification Registrar General’s Social Class (or Social Class by Occupation). The effects of social mobility are also examined.
Cox proportional hazard regression models, adjusted for age and sex, are used to estimate hazard ratios. The findings show that substantial differences exist in the risk of avoidable mortality between social classes. However, “upwards” social mobility significantly reduces risk whereas “downwards” social mobility significantly increases risk. These findings are discussed in light of Link and Phelan’s hypotheses linking social inequality to disease.
Presented by:
David Pevalin (University of Essex Dept of Health and Human Sciences)
Date & time:
February 24, 2010 1:00 pm - February 24, 2010 2:00 pm
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