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Most Disadvantaged Women Have Up To Six Times Risk Of Death From Some Diseases
24/11/2009
By Lea Pachta
Women in the most disadvantaged socio-economic classes are up to six times more likely than the most advantaged classes to die from respiratory diseases, according to analysis for the period 2001-03 in an article published today by ONS.
The most disadvantaged women also had approximately five times the mortality rates for ischaemic heart disease and digestive diseases, and three times the mortality rate of more advantaged women for lung cancer and cerebrovascular disease. However, there was no difference in deaths from breast cancer.
The article, in Health Statistics Quarterly, reports on social inequalities in female mortality by region and cause of death for women aged 25-59 years in England and Wales in the period 2001-03. It is part of a series of articles measuring inequalities in adult mortality. The findings confirm that socio-economic inequalities in mortality in women are as great as those previously reported in men.
The results show that there is still a 'north-south divide', with mortality rates for all classes consistently higher in the North West and North East of England and in Wales than in the South West and South East. However, the differences between regions in mortality rates for the more advantaged classes were smaller than for the least advantaged classes.
There were broadly similar levels of inequality in all regions, with differences between the death rates of women in the most advantaged and least advantaged socio-economic classes being slightly higher in the North West of England and in London than elsewhere.
A second article in Health Statistics Quarterly reports on the findings of a ten-year follow-up study of respondents to the 1994 General Household Survey who were aged 65 years and over at the time of that survey. It analyses the key factors in determining the risk of mortality in people over retirement age, such as... continued on page two >
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