IJE Advance Access published online on May 9, 2006
International Journal of Epidemiology, doi:10.1093/ije/dyl083
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 18-41, Rockville, MD 20857, USA
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Background This study examines changes in the extent of inequalities in life expectancy at birth and other ages in the United States between 1980 and 2000 by gender and socioeconomic deprivation levels. Methods A factor-based deprivation index consisting of 11 education, occupation, wealth, income distribution, unemployment, poverty, and housing quality indicators was used to define deprivation deciles, which were then linked to the US mortality data at the county-level. Life expectancy estimates were developed by age, gender, and deprivation levels for three 3 year time periods: 1980-82, 1989-91, and 1998-2000. Inequalities in life expectancy were measured by the absolute difference between the least-deprived group and each of the other deprivation deciles. Slope indices of inequality for each gender and time period were calculated by regressing life expectancy estimates on deprivation levels using weighted least squares models. Results Those in less-deprived groups experienced a longer life expectancy at each age than their counterparts in more-deprived groups. In 1980-82, the overall life expectancy at birth was 2.8 years longer for the least-deprived group than for the most-deprived group (75.8 vs 73.0 years). By 1998-2000, the absolute difference in life expectancy at birth had increased to 4.5 years (79.2 vs 74.7 years). The inequality indices also showed a substantial widening of the deprivation gradient in life expectancy during the study period for both males and females. Conclusions Between 1980 and 2000, those in higher socioeconomic groups experienced larger gains in life expectancy than those in more-deprived groups, contributing to the widening gap.
Accepted April 3, 2006
Original paper
Widening socioeconomic inequalities in US life expectancy, 1980-2000
Gopal K. Singh 1 *
and
Mohammad Siahpush 2
2 Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Control Research Institute, The Cancer Council Victoria, 100 Drummond Street, Carlton 3053, Australia
Gopal K. Singh, E-mail: gsingh{at}hrsa.gov
Abstract 
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
Related articles in Int. J. Epidemiol.:
- Commentary: The fading of the dream: widening inequalities in life expectancy in America
- Danny Dorling
Int. J. Epidemiol. 2006 10.1093/ije/dyl126.[Abstract]
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. Beckfield and N. Krieger Epi + demos + cracy: Linking Political Systems and Priorities to the Magnitude of Health Inequities--Evidence, Gaps, and a Research Agenda Epidemiol. Rev., June 9, 2009; (2009) mxp002v2. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. G. Marmot and R. Bell Action on Health Disparities in the United States: Commission on Social Determinants of Health JAMA, March 18, 2009; 301(11): 1169 - 1171. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Harper, J. Lynch, S. C. Meersman, N. Breen, W. W. Davis, and M. C. Reichman Trends in Area-Socioeconomic and Race-Ethnic Disparities in Breast Cancer Incidence, Stage at Diagnosis, Screening, Mortality, and Survival among Women Ages 50 Years and Over (1987-2005) Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., January 1, 2009; 18(1): 121 - 131. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Kim Intercohort Trends in the Relationship Between Education and Health: Examining Physical Impairment and Depressive Symptomatology J Aging Health, September 1, 2008; 20(6): 671 - 693. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L Hirte, E Nolte, E Mossialos, and M McKee The changing regional pattern of ischaemic heart disease mortality in southern Europe: still healthy but uneven progress J Epidemiol Community Health, April 1, 2008; 62(4): e4 - e4. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C Borrell, E Azlor, M Rodriguez-Sanz, R Puigpinos, G Cano-Serral, M I Pasarin, J M Martinez, J Benach, and C Muntaner Trends in socioeconomic mortality inequalities in a southern European urban setting at the turn of the 21st century J Epidemiol Community Health, March 1, 2008; 62(3): 258 - 266. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. R. Meara, S. Richards, and D. M. Cutler The Gap Gets Bigger: Changes In Mortality And Life Expectancy, By Education, 1981-2000 Health Aff., March 1, 2008; 27(2): 350 - 360. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. R. Brown, A. Hernandez, G. Saint-Jean, S. Evans, I. Tafari, L. G. Brewster, M. J. Celestin, C. Gomez-Estefan, F. Regalado, S. Akal, et al. A Participatory Action Research Pilot Study of Urban Health Disparities Using Rapid Assessment Response and Evaluation Am J Public Health, January 1, 2008; 98(1): 28 - 38. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Feinglass, S. Lin, J. Thompson, J. Sudano, D. Dunlop, J. Song, and D. W. Baker Baseline Health, Socioeconomic Status, and 10-Year Mortality Among Older Middle-Aged Americans: Findings From the Health and Retirement Study, 1992 2002 J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., July 1, 2007; 62(4): S209 - S217. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Saracci Epidemiology: a science for justice in health Int. J. Epidemiol., April 1, 2007; 36(2): 265 - 268. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. Jacobs and M. Podobny Do all benefit from economic growth? Int. J. Epidemiol., April 1, 2007; 36(2): 470 - 471. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. K. Singh and M. D. Kogan Persistent Socioeconomic Disparities in Infant, Neonatal, and Postneonatal Mortality Rates in the United States, 1969-2001 Pediatrics, April 1, 2007; 119(4): e928 - e939. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Dorling Commentary: The fading of the dream: widening inequalities in life expectancy in America Int. J. Epidemiol., August 1, 2006; 35(4): 979 - 980. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|