Desigualdades y mortalidad por cirrosis en varones (Zaragoza, 1996-2003)

Socioeconomic Inequalities in Chronic Liver Diseases and Cirrhosis Mortality in European Urban Areas before and after the Onset of the 2008 Economic Recession

Objective: To analyse the trends in chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis mortality, and the associated socioeconomic inequalities, in nine European cities and urban areas before and after the onset of the 2008 financial crisis. Methods: This is an ecological study of trends in three periods of time: two before (2000–2003 and 2004–2008), and one after (2009–2014) the onset of the economic crisis. The units of analysis were the geographical areas of nine cities or urban areas in Europe. We analysed chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis standardised mortality ratios, smoothing them with a hierarchical Bayesian model by each city, area, and sex. An ecological regression model was fitted to analyse the trends in socioeconomic inequalities, and included the socioeconomic deprivation index, the period, and their interaction. Results: In general, chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis mortality rates were higher in men than in women. These rates decreased in all cities during the financial crisis, except among men in Athens (rates increased from 8.50 per 100,000 inhabitants during the second period to 9.42 during the third). Socioeconomic inequalities in chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis mortality were found in six cities/metropolitan areas among men, and in four among women. Finally, in the periods studied, such inequalities did not significantly change. However, among men they increased in Turin and Barcelona and among women, several cities had lower inequalities in the third period. Conclusions: There are geographical socioeconomic inequalities in chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis mortality, mainly among men, that did not change during the 2008 financial crisis. These results should be monitored in the long term.

Diabetes mellitus mortality in Spanish cities: Trends and geographical inequalities

AIM

To analyze the geographical pattern of diabetes mellitus (DM) mortality and its association with socioeconomic factors in 26 Spanish cities.

METHODS

We conducted an ecological study of DM mortality trends with two cross-sectional cuts (1996-2001; 2002-2007) using census tract (CT) as the unit of analysis. Smoothed standardized mortality rates (sSMR) were calculated using Bayesian models, and a socioeconomic deprivation score was calculated for each CT.

RESULTS

In total, 27,757 deaths by DM were recorded, with higher mortality rates observed in men and in the period 1996-2001. For men, a significant association between CT deprivation score and DM mortality was observed in 6 cities in the first study period and in 7 cities in the second period. The highest relative risk was observed in Pamplona (RR, 5.13; 95% credible interval (95%CI), 1.32-15.16). For women, a significant association between CT deprivation score and DM mortality was observed in 13 cities in the first period and 8 in the second. The strongest association was observed in San Sebastián (RR, 3.44; 95%CI, 1.25-7.36). DM mortality remained stable in the majority of cities, although a marked decrease was observed in some cities, including Madrid (RR, 0.67 and 0.64 for men and women, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate clear inequalities in DM mortality in Spain. These inequalities remained constant over time are were more marked in women. Detection of high-risk areas is crucial for the implementation of specific interventions.

Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in preventable mortality in urban areas of 33 Spanish cities, 1996-2007 (MEDEA project)

Background

Preventable mortality is a good indicator of possible problems to be investigated in the primary prevention chain, making it also a useful tool with which to evaluate health policies particularly public health policies. This study describes inequalities in preventable avoidable mortality in relation to socioeconomic status in small urban areas of thirty three Spanish cities, and analyses their evolution over the course of the periods 1996–2001 and 2002–2007.

Methods

We analysed census tracts and all deaths occurring in the population residing in these cities from 1996 to 2007 were taken into account. The causes included in the study were lung cancer, cirrhosis, AIDS/HIV, motor vehicle traffic accidents injuries, suicide and homicide. The census tracts were classified into three groups, according their socioeconomic level. To analyse inequalities in mortality risks between the highest and lowest socioeconomic levels and over different periods, for each city and separating by sex, Poisson regression were used.

Results

Preventable avoidable mortality made a significant contribution to general mortality (around 7.5%, higher among men), having decreased over time in men (12.7 in 1996–2001 and 10.9 in 2002–2007), though not so clearly among women (3.3% in 1996–2001 and 2.9% in 2002–2007). It has been observed in men that the risks of death are higher in areas of greater deprivation, and that these excesses have not modified over time. The result in women is different and differences in mortality risks by socioeconomic level could not be established in many cities.

Conclusions

Preventable mortality decreased between the 1996–2001 and 2002–2007 periods, more markedly in men than in women. There were socioeconomic inequalities in mortality in most cities analysed, associating a higher risk of death with higher levels of deprivation. Inequalities have remained over the two periods analysed. This study makes it possible to identify those areas where excess preventable mortality was associated with more deprived zones. It is in these deprived zones where actions to reduce and monitor health inequalities should be put into place. Primary healthcare may play an important role in this process.

Gastric cancer incidence and geographical variations: the influence of gender and rural and socioeconomic factors, Zaragoza (Spain)

BACKGROUND

Socioeconomic status (SES) and rural factors have been shown to be associated with gastric cancer epidemiology. The aim of this study was to identify geographical variations in gastric cancer incidence in Zaragoza province (Spain) during the period 1993-2002, and their association with SES and rural factors.

METHODS

Incident cases were extracted from the population-based Zaragoza Cancer Registry. The geographical analysis unit was the census tract (CT) in Zaragoza city (N = 462) and the municipalities for the rest of the province (N = 292). Four indexes were applied: two deprivation and two rurality indexes, included in a Bayesian risk model discretized in quartiles. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated using the incidence rates in Spain. SIRs were adjusted by a Bayesian generalized linear mixed model (GLMM).

RESULTS

From 1993 to 2002, 1,309 cases of gastric cancer were registered in Zaragoza city and 578 in the rest of the province. High risk was observed in CTs for the peripheral areas of the city. The incidence risk in men was 2 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.22-2.98) times higher in the most deprived CTs compared with the least deprived CTs, but no statistically significant differences were found in women. Municipalities with higher risk were observed in the north of the province, but no significant association was found with SES. Regarding the rurality index, a positive trend was observed in women, but it was statistically significant only for the most rural quartile (2.49, 95 % CI 1.07-4.92).

CONCLUSIONS

Geographical differences in gastric cancer incidence were detected. Although these differences could be partially explained by the deprivation index for men in Zaragoza city, deprivation index cannot explain geographical differences for women. In the rest of the province, the rurality index 1991 could explain, at least for women, geographical differences. It is still necessary to develop a deprivation index suitable for small municipalities.

[Analysis of inequalities in mortality in small areas: obstacles to overcome]

No analyses have been performed in the Balearic Islands (Spain) to assess health inequalities in mortality in small areas. The objective of this study was to construct a mortality atlas using geocoding of mortality records. During this process, several problems were encountered, which are summarized in this article. These problems were based on the lack of stable small geographical areas, difficulties in obtaining the population for small areas divided by age and sex for the study period, problems with the quality of the cartography, and the poor quality of the mortality records. The methodological problems identified in this process should be considered in future studies.

Bayesian analysis of the geographical variation of type 1 diabetes mellitus in under 15 yr olds in northeast Spain, 1991-2009

OBJECTIVE

High variability has been observed in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) incidence rates (IRs) in childhood. The aim of this study was to characterize DM1 in Aragón and to identify variations in the geographical pattern by gender.

METHODS

A descriptive and ecological study was conducted to determine geographical variations in the DM1 incidence for the period 1991-2009. The source of information was the registry of DM1. To determine data completeness, a capture-recapture analysis was performed. Cases were georeferenced according to the Basic Healthcare Area (BHA) of residence. IRs for both genders, age group, 5 yr of diagnosis, and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated. Geographical pattern was studied applying Bayesian statistical model. The standardized incidence ratios (SIRs), smoothed SIR, and the posteriori risk probability (PRP) were represented cartographically for BHA stratified by gender.

RESULTS

The completeness was 93.5%. The global IR was 19.2 cases/10(5) person-years (95% CI: 17.6-20.8), boys 21.4 (95% CI: 19.0-23.8) and girls 16.8 (95% CI: 14.7-19.1). The age-specific rates were significantly lower in the 0-4 year age group with respect to the groups of 5-9 and 10-14 years. For boys, areas with a statistically significant excess of risk were found in the north [smoothed SIR: 118-167.9 and PRP of what the smoothed SIR would be greater than 100 (PRP) above 0.8] and below average risk in the south (smoothed SIR: 65.9-79.1 and PRP less than 0.2).

CONCLUSIONS

DM1 IR presented a north-south geographical pattern in boys. This pattern was not observed in girls or when both genders were considered together. Later studies should include gender as an essential variable.