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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting (Propensity Score) using the Military Health System Data Repository and National Death Index

Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting (Propensity Score) using the Military Health System Data Repository and National Death Index

Published on: January 8, 2020

Black-white differences in avoidable mortality in the USA, 1980-2005.

J Macinko¹, I T Elo

¹New York University, Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, New York, NY 10012, USA. james.macinko@nyu.edu

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

|April 15, 2009

Summary

Black-white disparities in avoidable mortality (AM) persist, particularly from medical care and policy-sensitive causes. Addressing these preventable deaths offers significant potential to narrow racial gaps in mortality.

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Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting (Propensity Score) using the Military Health System Data Repository and National Death Index

Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting (Propensity Score) using the Military Health System Data Repository and National Death Index

Published on: January 8, 2020

Area of Science:

Public Health
Epidemiology
Health Disparities

Background:

Avoidable Mortality (AM) encompasses deaths preventable with timely medical care or influenced by public policy and behavior.
Significant black-white disparities in mortality exist, necessitating analysis of contributing factors.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze racial disparities in avoidable mortality between black and white populations.
To quantify the contribution of different cause-of-death categories to these disparities.

Main Methods:

Analysis of mortality under age 65 from 1980-2005, categorized by amenability to medical care, policy/behavior influence, ischemic heart disease, HIV/AIDS, and other causes.
Calculation of age-standardized death rates (ASDRs) for race and sex groups.
Use of negative binomial regression to model relative risks of death.

Main Results:

In 2005, mortality amenable to medical care was the largest contributor to absolute black-white mortality disparity (30% for men, 42% for women).
Policy/behavior-sensitive mortality contributed 20% to disparities in men and 4% in women.
While absolute disparities decreased for most conditions, relative disparities (rate ratios) remained largely unchanged, except for a substantial increase in HIV/AIDS risks for black individuals.

Conclusions:

Substantial potential exists to reduce black-white mortality differences by addressing causes amenable to medical care.
Policy and behavior interventions can further narrow these disparities, particularly for men.