Socioeconomic inequalities in mortality in Pamplona and Logroño (cities in the North of Spain) in the 1996-2007 period

Abstract

Background. The objective of this study was to describe inequalities in mortality in the cities of Logroño and Pamplona, using a socioeconomic privation data by census tract.

Methods. Deaths were geocoded using the mailing address of the Death Statistics Bulletin and, in its absence, that of the Spanish Municipal Register or the Spanish Health Card were considered. The socioeconomic variables used to construct the deprivation index were obtained from the Spanish Population and Housing Census of 2001. Census tracts were grouped by socioeconomic deprivation quintiles. In each quintile, age-adjusted mortality rates were computed divided by sex and age group (0-64, ≥ 65).

Results. In both cities, higher mortality rates were observed in the geographical areas with higher socio-economic deprivation. This was particularly evident among men under 65 for whom a positive gradient between mortality and the deprivation index was observed.  The areas with higher deprivation reached a relative risk (RR) of 1.61 (CI 95%, 1, 33-1, 92) and 1.77 (CI 95%, 1, 55-2 01) in Pamplona and Logroño respectively. Among women under 65, a RR of 1.44 (CI 95%, 1, 18-1, 74) and 1.48 (CI 95%, 1, 10-1, 95) were shown for the most depressed areas of Pamplona and Logroño respectively.

Conclusions. The study highlighted inequalities in mortality associated with socioeconomic deprivation in the cities of Logroño and Pamplona. Also shown was the utility of analysing socio-economic indicators and mortality by small areas in order to identify inequality in health.