An article examined social inequalities in mortality for women aged 25-59 in England and Wales in the period 2001-03. There was a strong socio-economic effect on the mortality of women in all regions. Compared to women in the most advantaged class, mortality rates were three times as high for the least advantaged women for lung cancer and cerebrovascular disease, around five times as high for ischaemic heart disease and all digestive diseases, and six times as high for respiratory diseases.
Source: Ann Langford, Brian Johnson and Alaa Al-Hamad, 'Social inequalities in female mortality by region and by selected causes of death, England and Wales, 2001-03', Health Statistics Quarterly 44, Winter 2009, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2009-Nov
There were an estimated 36,700 excess winter deaths in England and Wales in 2008-09 – an increase of 49 per cent on the previous year, and the highest number since 1999-2000.
Source: Excess Winter Mortality in England and Wales: 2008/09 (Provisional) and 2007/08 (Final), Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report | ONS press release | NEA press release | ERA press release | Community Care report
Date: 2009-Nov
An article developed the first estimates of the mortality risks experienced by different ethnic groups at sub-national level. A comparison of two alternative estimates indicated that the method based on illness rates produced more plausible outcomes.
Source: Philip Howell Rees, Pia Wohland and Paul Norman, 'The estimation of mortality for ethnic groups at local scale within the United Kingdom', Social Science & Medicine Volume 69 Issue 11
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Nov
An article examined a longitudinal analysis of a sample of residents aged 65 or over when interviewed for the 1994 General Household Survey, and the associations between personal characteristics and the probability of survival during a ten-year follow-up period. Smoking was the most important factor of those measured in determining the likelihood of survival. Type of housing tenure and region of residence were better predictors of mortality risk than occupation-based social class.
Source: Brian Johnson and Ann Langford, 'Demographic, behavioural and socio-economic influences on the survival of retired people – Evidence from a ten year follow up study of the General Household Survey, 1994', Health Statistics Quarterly 44, Winter 2009, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2009-Nov
An article examined infant mortality in England and Wales during 2005 and 2006 in relation to the level of deprivation of the area in which the mother lived, socio-economic status of the father, marital status, ethnicity of the baby, maternal age, birthweight, maternal country of birth, sex of the baby, and gestational age. Pre-term birth, low birthweight, and smallness in relation to gestational age were associated with deprivation and increased the risk of infant mortality.
Source: Laura Oakley, Noreen Maconochie, Pat Doyle, Nirupa Dattani and Kath Moser, 'Multivariate analysis of infant death in England and Wales in 2005-06, with focus on socio-economic status and deprivation', Health Statistics Quarterly 42, Summer 2009, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2009-May
An article examined mortality among women of working age (25-59) in 2001-2003 in England and Wales. Mortality for women in routine occupations was around twice as high as that of women in higher managerial and professional occupations.
Source: Ann Langford and Brian Johnson, 'Social inequalities in adult female mortality by the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification, England and Wales, 2001-03', Health Statistics Quarterly 42, Summer 2009, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2009-May