A comparison of socioeconomic differences in mortality between Japan and England and Wales

Japan and England and Wales have long traditions of publishing mortality rates by occupation. These data have been used in the present study to see how mortality from different causes of death is related to socioeconomic status in each country. In general, males in higher employment grades have been found to have lower mortality from most diseases. However, because mortality from certain diseases such as diabetes mellitus and ischaemic heart disease has been higher in the upper social classes (but is now lower in the upper classes) the relationship is not necessarily consistent. The aim of this study was, by comparing rates for Japan with those for England and Wales, to highlight differences in socioeconomic gradients which may indicate etiological differences between the 2 countries.