[Social inequality and trends in mortality among singles in Norway].
BACKGROUND
Mortality rates are known to be high among singles, a group that has increased over time. Monitoring the health status of singles and identifying high-risk subgroups are valuable efforts for evaluation and planning purposes.


METHODS
Information about household size, income, education and sex among all Norwegians aged 45-59 and 60-69 in 1970, 1980 and 1990 has been linked to mortality data from 1970-77, 1980-87 and 1990-97.


RESULTS
In the age group 45-59, mortality rates was down by 4 per cent among single men and up by 11 per cent among single women from the 1970s to the 1990s, while mortality rates went down by 38 % among non-single men and 22 % among non-single women. Differences in mortality between singles and others have increased over time for the 45-59 age group, but not for the 60-69 age group. Social inequalities in health are larger among singles.


CONCLUSIONS
In the age group 45-59, single households represent an increasing public health problem. A weakened relative financial position and more singles being divorced are factors of possible significance.
Zahl
Per-Henrik
PH
Nasjonalt folkkehelseinstitutt, Division for epidemiologi, Oslo.
Rognerud
Marit
M
Strand
Bjørn Heine
BH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012847:Single Person / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012935:Social Justice; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors