Deprivation and mortality in non-metropolitan areas of England and Wales.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that the relationship between deprivation and mortality is weaker among residents of non-metropolitan areas of England and Wales than among residents of metropolitan areas.


METHODS
This study compared mortality, expressed as standardised mortality ratios (SMRs), in residents of metropolitan and non-metropolitan districts at three levels of deprivation classified by an electoral ward deprivation score and by home and car ownership. SMRs were computed for all causes of death, for bronchitis and asthma (ICD9 codes 490-493), and for accident, violence, and poisoning (ICD9 codes 800-999).


METHODS
England and Wales.


METHODS
Members of the longitudinal study of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, a quasi-random 1% sample of the population of England and Wales.


RESULTS
There was an association between deprivation and mortality which was clear for all cause mortality, more noticeable for respiratory disease, and less clear for deaths from accident, violence, and poison. In general, the results showed a remarkable similarity between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.


CONCLUSIONS
This study does not support the hypothesis that the relationship between mortality and deprivation differs between residents of metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas of England and Wales.
Jessop
E G
EG
West Surrey Health Commission, Ridgewood Centre, Camberley, Surrey.
D000059:Accidents / Q000401:mortality; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D011041:Poisoning / Q000401:mortality; D011203:Poverty; D012423:Rural Health; D014504:Urban Health; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology