Black-white differences in infectious disease mortality in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
This study determined the degree to which Black-White differences in infectious disease mortality are explained by income and education and the extent to which infectious diseases contribute to Black-White differences in all-cause mortality.


METHODS
A sample population of the National Longitudinal Mortality Study from 1979 through 1981 was analyzed and followed up through 1989.


RESULTS
Infectious disease mortality among Blacks was higher than among Whites, with a relative risk of 1.53 after adjustment for age and sex and 1.34 after further adjustment for income and education. Death from infectious diseases contributed to 9.3% of the difference in all-cause mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
In the United States, infectious diseases account for nearly 10% of the excess all-cause mortality rates in Blacks compared with Whites.
Richardus
J H
JH
Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Postbox 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. richardus@mgz.fgg.eur.nl
Kunst
A E
AE
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D019352:Censuses; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D004522:Educational Status; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000401:mortality; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*