Socioeconomic inequalities in all-cause mortality in the Czech Republic, Russia, Poland and Lithuania in the 2000s: findings from the HAPIEE Study

Hadewijch Vandenheede, Olga Vikhireva, Hynek Pikhart, Ruzena Kubinova, Sofia Malyutina, Andrzej Pajak, Abdonas Tamosiunas, Anne Peasey, Galina Simonova, Roman Topor-Madry, Michael Marmot, Martin Bobak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Relatively large socioeconomic inequalities in health and mortality have been observed in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the former Soviet Union (FSU). Yet comparative data are sparse and virtually all studies include only education. The aim of this study is to quantify and compare socioeconomic inequalities in all-cause mortality during the 2000s in urban population samples from four CEE/FSU countries, by three different measures of socioeconomic position (SEP) (education, difficulty buying food and household amenities), reflecting different aspects of SEP.

METHODS: Data from the prospective population-based HAPIEE (Health, Alcohol, and Psychosocial factors in Eastern Europe) study were used. The baseline survey (2002-2005) included 16 812 men and 19 180 women aged 45-69 years in Novosibirsk (Russia), Krakow (Poland), Kaunas (Lithuania) and seven Czech towns. Deaths in the cohorts were identified through mortality registers. Data were analysed by direct standardisation and Cox regression, quantifying absolute and relative SEP differences.

RESULTS: Mortality inequalities by the three SEP indicators were observed in all samples. The magnitude of inequalities varied according to gender, country and SEP measure. As expected, given the high mortality rates in Russian men, largest absolute inequalities were found among Russian men (educational slope index of inequality was 19.4 per 1000 person-years). Largest relative inequalities were observed in Czech men and Lithuanian subjects. Disadvantage by all three SEP measures remained strongly associated with increased mortality after adjusting for the other SEP indicators.

CONCLUSIONS: The results emphasise the importance of all SEP measures for understanding mortality inequalities in CEE/FSU.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)297-303
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Volume68
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Nov 2013

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cause of Death
  • Czech Republic
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Food Supply
  • Health Status Disparities
  • Health Surveys
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Housing
  • Humans
  • Lithuania
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mortality
  • Poland
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Risk Factors
  • Russia
  • Social Class
  • Urban Population
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Socioeconomic inequalities in all-cause mortality in the Czech Republic, Russia, Poland and Lithuania in the 2000s: findings from the HAPIEE Study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this