[Social differences in mortality trends in Denmark].
BACKGROUND
In Denmark the life expectancy began to increase in the mid-1990s after many years of stagnation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the increase was independent of educational level.


METHODS
The study is based on data on education and mortality rates during the period 1995-1999 and comprises all deaths of Danes between the ages of 30 and 74. The total and cause-specific, sex-specific and age-specific death rates for each of three educational groups were calculated and standardised by age in order to make comparisons over time and between groups.


RESULTS
The age-standardised death rates decreased annually by 2.3% for men and 1.2% for women with a low educational level. The decrease was higher among those with a medium or high level of education, the decrease in death rates being 4.0% for men and 3.5% for women. The development in cancer mortality showed a decline among men and women with a medium educational level and women with a high level, but not among men with a high level of education or men or women with a low educational level. Mortality due to cardiovascular diseases declined in all groups, but less among persons with a low educational level. The mortality rate from chronic obstructive lung disease increased among low-educated persons and among women with a medium level of education; for the other groups changes were not noticeable.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall decline in the mortality rates among Danes during the period 1995-1999 was socially unequally distributed. The smallest decrease was seen among those with a low educational level. In particular, the decline was modest among women with a low educational level.
Brønnum-Hansen
Henrik
H
Statens Institut for Folkesundhed, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, København K. hbh@niph.dk
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000401:mortality; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors