Comparisons between geographies of mortality and deprivation from the 1900s and 2001: spatial analysis of census and mortality statistics

摘要

Objectives To examine the geographical relation between mortality and deprivation in England and Wales at the start of the 20th and 21st centuries. To explore the evidence for a strengthening or weakening of this relation overthe century and test for relations between the mortality and deprivation patterns of a century ago and modern mortality and causes of death. Design Census and mortality data for 634 districts from the 1900s directly compared with interpolated ward level data from 2001. Setting Census data and national statistics for England and Wales in the 1900s and 2.001. Population Entire population in both periods. Main outcome measures Standardised mortality ratios for all districts for both periods with additional cause specific ratios calculated for 2001. Deprivation (Carstairs) scores for each district in 2001, with comparable measure created for the 1900s. Correlations and partial correlations between deprivation scores and standardised mortality ratios in the 1900s and 2001 forthe 614 districts for which all data were available. Results There was no evidence of a significant change in the strength of the relation between deprivation and mortality between the start and end of the 20th century. Modern patterns of mortality and deprivation remain closely related to the patterns of a century ago. Even after adjustment for modern deprivation, standardised mortality ratios forthe 1900s show a significant correlation with modern mortality and most causes of death. Conversely, however, there was no significant relation between deprivation in the 1900s and modern mortality for most causes of death after adjustment for modern deprivation.Conclusions Despite all the medical, public health, social, economic, and political changes overthe 20th century, patterns of poverty and mortality and the relations between them remain firmly entrenched. There is a strong relation between the mortality levels of a century ago and those of today. This goes beyond what would hav