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Enhancing population-wide administrative data to better understand mortality risk in underserved groups
Emma Ross1, Sarah McKenna1, Aideen Maguire1
1Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland (ADRC NI), Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
SSM - Population Health
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Population-wide data reveals that most underserved groups (USGs) have lower mortality risks. However, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and other sexual minorities (LGB+) face elevated risks for deaths of despair.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Sociology
Background:
- Underserved groups (USGs) experience significant health disparities.
- Studying USGs is challenging due to small sample sizes and low participation in voluntary studies.
- Population-wide Census data offers a valuable resource for studying USGs' health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine mortality outcomes among various USGs in Northern Ireland.
- To leverage Census-linked mortality data for a comprehensive analysis.
- To understand the heterogeneity of mortality risks within USGs.
Main Methods:
- A population-wide cohort study using the Northern Ireland Mortality Study 2021.
- Linking Census data to death records for individuals aged ≥16 years (n=1,463,459).
- Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze all-cause mortality, avoidable mortality, and deaths of despair, adjusting for sociodemographic and health factors.
Main Results:
- 28.3% of the cohort belonged to at least one USG.
- Most USGs (ethnic minorities, migrants, limited English, religious minorities) showed lower all-cause mortality risk.
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and other sexual minorities (LGB+) had elevated risk for deaths of despair (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.02-1.43) after full adjustment.
Conclusions:
- Most USGs exhibited lower mortality risks compared to their reference populations.
- LGB+ individuals demonstrated an elevated risk for deaths of despair.
- Population-wide data is crucial for understanding diverse mortality patterns among USGs.
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