Multiple social disadvantage does it have an effect on amenable mortality: a brief report

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Health inequalities research often uses single social indicators, but multiple factors require simultaneous analysis.
• Mortality amenable to health-care (MAH) is a key indicator for assessing healthcare system effectiveness.
• This study examines the interplay of social, regional, and employment factors on income-related MAH in Finland.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the combined effects of social and regional deprivation and unemployment on the association between income and mortality amenable to health-care.
• To analyze changes in these associations over time in Finland.

Main Methods:

• Utilized individual-level linked register data for deaths among Finnish residents aged 25-59 years (1992-2008).
• Employed gender- and age-standardised rates and Poisson regression models.
• Assessed differences and changes in amenable mortality across various socioeconomic indicators.

Main Results:

• Amenable mortality showed an inverse relationship with income; the lowest quintile had significantly higher rates than the highest.
• While overall amenable mortality decreased, income-related disparities widened, with increases in the lowest income group.
• Poor labor market position and living alone amplified income-related differences in amenable mortality.
• Regional deprivation was not significantly associated with amenable mortality.

Conclusions:

• Targeted interventions for socially and economically deprived groups in primary care are essential for reducing preventable deaths.
• Effective management of amenable mortality requires integrated health and social services to address accumulating social disadvantages.