At national level in England and Wales, infant mortality rates fell rapidly from the early 1970s and into the 1980s. Subnational areas had also experienced a reduction in levels of infant mortality. Although rates continued to fall to 2006, the rate of reduction had slowed. A strong relationship was found between ward-level deprivation and infant mortality rates. Nevertheless, levels of infant mortality declined over time even in the most deprived areas, with a narrowing of absolute differences in rates between areas. Areas in which the level of deprivation eased had experienced greater than average reductions in levels of infant mortality.
Source: Paul Norman, Ian Gregory, Danny Dorling and Allan Baker, 'Geographical trends in infant mortality: England and Wales, 1970 2006', Health Statistics Quarterly 40, Winter 2008, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article
Date: 2008-Nov
An article presented statistics on stillbirths and infant deaths registered in England and Wales that occurred in 2007. The infant mortality rate was highest among babies of mothers aged under 20. Babies of fathers in 'routine occupations' had an infant mortality rate of 5.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared with babies of fathers in the 'large employers and higher managerial occupations' who had an infant mortality rate of 2.8 per 1,000 live births.
Source: Kath Moser, 'Infant and perinatal mortality in England and Wales by social and biological factors, 2007', Health Statistics Quarterly 40, Winter 2008, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2008-Nov
An article analyzed provisional estimated figures for excess winter mortality for the winter period 2007-08, and final figures for the winter period 2006-07, for deaths occurring in England and Wales. In the four months of winter 2007-08 there were an estimated 25,300 more deaths in England and Wales than in the non-winter period. This was more than in the previous winter, and similar to the winter of 2005-06: but not as many as in the winter of 2004-05. There were just over 1,500 more excess winter deaths in 2007-08 than in 2006-07, an increase of 7 per cent.
Source: Anita Brock, 'Excess winter mortality in England and Wales, 2007/08 (provisional) and 2006/07 (final)', Health Statistics Quarterly 40, Winter 2008, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2008-Nov
An article used (for the first time) the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) to analyze regional variations in inequalities in male mortality in England and Wales during 2001-2003. Socio-economic differences in mortality were more marked for men in Wales, the north east, and the north west. The regional differences in mortality were smallest for the most advantaged classes and greatest for the least advantaged classes.
Source: Veronique Siegler, Ann Langford and Brian Johnson, 'Regional differences in male mortality inequalities using the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification, England and Wales, 2001 03',Health Statistics Quarterly 40, Winter 2008, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article | ONS press release | FT report
Date: 2008-Nov
An article presented the latest figures on male and female health expectancy, at birth and at age 65, for the United Kingdom and its four constituent countries in 2004-2006. (Healthy life expectancy divides total life expectancy into years spent in good or 'not good' health.) On average, males in the United Kingdom could expect to live in good or fairly good health for 68.2 years at birth, and 12.8 years at age 65. The equivalent figures for females were 70.4 and 14.5 years respectively.
Source: Michael Smith, Grace Edgar and Genevieve Groom, 'Health expectancies in the United Kingdom, 2004 06', Health Statistics Quarterly 40, Winter 2008, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2008-Nov
An atlas of mortality in the United Kingdom was published, based on data from 1981 to 2003, with maps and cartograms showing the spatial distribution of death analyzed by cause.
Source: Mary Shaw, Bethan Thomas, George Davey Smith and Daniel Dorling, The Grim Reaper's Road Map: An atlas of mortality in Britain, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary | Policy Press press release | Bristol University press release | Observer report | Telegraph report | BBC report
Date: 2008-Oct
New statistics showed that life expectancy at birth had reached its highest level on record for both males and females. A newborn baby boy could expect to live 77.2 years and a newborn baby girl 81.5 years if mortality rates remained the same as they were in 2005-2007. Females continued to live longer than males: but the gap had been closing. Children born in the south-east and south-west regions in 2005-07 had the longest life expectancy at birth.
Source: United Kingdom, Interim Life Tables, 1980-82 to 2005-07, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report | ONS press release | Watson Wyatt press release | BBC report | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Oct
A report examined differences in the mortality rates of different population groups in Northern Ireland. Higher mortality rates were found among: those living in public sector housing; those with no or low-level qualifications; the economically inactive and unemployed; and those living in the 20 per cent most deprived areas in Northern Ireland.
Source: Alan McClelland, Differences in Mortality Rates in Northern Ireland 2002-2005: A section 75 and social disadvantage perspective, Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500)
Links: Report | NIE press release | CDNA press release
Date: 2008-Oct
A report examined life expectancy for administrative areas within Scotland over the period 2005-2007. Overall life expectancy at birth had improved over the previous 10 years from 72.3 years to 74.8 years for men, and from 77.9 years to 79.7 years for women.
Source: Life Expectancy for Administrative Areas within Scotland, 2005-2007, General Register Office for Scotland (0131 314 4243)
Links: Report | GROS press release | BBC report
Date: 2008-Sep
An article examined differences in mortality between rural and urban areas in England and Wales in the years 2002-2004. Rural populations were not found to be inherently 'healthier'. All-cause mortality of males in rural areas of England was 15 per cent lower than in urban areas: but after adjustment for deprivation this difference was reduced to only 3 per cent.
Source: Andrea Gartner, Daniel Farewell, Frank Dunstan and Emma Gordon, 'Differences in mortality between rural and urban areas in England and Wales, 2002-04', Health Statistics Quarterly 39, Autumn 2008, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2008-Aug
Statistics were published on stillbirths, infant deaths, and childhood deaths in England and Wales in 2006.
Source: Mortality Statistics: Childhood, Infant and Perinatal – Review of the National Statistician on deaths in England and Wales, 2006, Series DH3 39, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Aug
For babies born in 2005, infant mortality in both the Pakistani and Caribbean groups was twice that of the White British group.
Source: Press release 24 June 2008, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: ONS press release | BBC report
Date: 2008-Jun
A report said that in 2006 the stillbirth rate (in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) was 5.3 per 1,000 total births, the perinatal mortality rate was 7.9 per 1,000 total births, and the neonatal mortality rate was 3.4 per 1,000 live births (down slightly in each case compared with 2005).
Source: Perinatal Mortality 2006, Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (020 7486 1191)
Links: Report | CEMCH press release | BBC report | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-May
A paper examined the relationship between common sources of airborne pollution and population mortality in England. Higher levels of particulate matter and ozone were associated with higher mortality rates. The size of the effects translated into around 4,500 deaths per annum.
Source: Katharina Janke, Carol Propper and John Henderson, Are Current Levels of Air Pollution in England Too High? The impact of pollution on population mortality, CASEpaper 128, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion/London School of Economics (020 7955 6679)
Date: 2008-Jan
An article examined whether social inequalities in all-cause and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in Britain had been reduced between 1978 and 2005. Relative differences in all-cause and CHD mortality between manual and non-manual social class groups persisted, and might have increased during this period. Absolute differences in mortality between these social groups decreased as a result of falling overall mortality rates. Greater effort was needed to reduce social inequalities in all-cause and CHD mortality.
Source: Sheena Ramsay, Richard Morris, Lucy Lennon, Sasiwarang Wannamethee and Peter Whincup, 'Are social inequalities in mortality in Britain narrowing? Time trends from 1978 to 2005 in a population-based study of older men', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 62 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jan