title: Death rate variation in US subpopulations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To account for variations in death rates in population subgroups of the USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Factors associated with age-adjusted death rates in 366 metropolitan and non- metropolitan areas of the United States were examined for 1990-92. The rates ranged from 690 to 1108 per 100 000 population (mean = 885 +/- 78 per 100 000).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Least squares regression analysis explained 71% of this variance. Factors with the strongest independent positive association were ethnicity (African-American), less than a high school education, high Medicare expenditures, and location in western or southern regions. Factors with the strongest independent negative associations were employment in agriculture and forestry, ethnicity (Hispanic) and per capita income.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Additional research at the individual level is needed to determine if these associations are causal, since some of the factors with the strongest associations, such as education, have long latency periods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53705-2397, USA. dakindig@facstaff.wisc.edu
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kindig
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Seplaki
authors.forename: Donald L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Libby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019352:Censuses; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009026:Mortality; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population