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Women's death in Scandinavia--what makes Denmark different?
Rune Jacobsen1, My Von Euler, Merete Osler
1Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej, Denmark. R.jacobsen@pubhealth.ku.dk
European Journal of Epidemiology
|April 13, 2004
Summary
Danish women born between the World Wars have higher mortality, explaining their lower life expectancy compared to Swedish and Norwegian women. This is partly a transitional effect linked to higher smoking rates in these cohorts.
Area of Science:
- Demography
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Life expectancy varies across Nordic countries, with Danish women historically showing lower rates.
- Understanding demographic and lifestyle factors influencing mortality is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causes of lower life expectancy in Danish women compared to those in Sweden and Norway.
- To identify specific birth cohorts and potential risk factors contributing to observed mortality differences.
Main Methods:
- A prospective age-period-cohort study was conducted over 40 years (1960-2000).
- The study included all women aged 40-84 in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, born between 1900 and 1950.
- Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals for mortality were calculated.
Main Results:
- Danish women born between the two World Wars exhibited a significantly higher risk of mortality.
- This elevated mortality pattern was not observed in comparable cohorts of Swedish or Norwegian women.
- A potential cohort effect was noted for Swedish women born around 1940.
Conclusions:
- The lower life expectancy of Danish women is partly a transitional phenomenon, primarily affecting those born between the World Wars.
- High smoking prevalence among Danish women in these specific birth cohorts throughout adulthood is indicated as a contributing factor.
- These findings highlight the long-term impact of historical lifestyle factors on population health outcomes.