Some aspects of the geographical mortality pattern of the Brussels population in 1970

By means of routinely collected data and using the indirect standardization method, geographical differences in the mortality pattern of the Brussels population in the period 1969-1971, are described on a municipality level. The generally lower mortality for 'all causes' in southeastern municipalities and up to two times higher death rates in some northern and central municipalities are predominant findings. The presence of varying proportions of foreign born did not seem to influence the pattern. When examining specific causes of death (cardiovascular diseases, ischemic heart disease, cancer and violence) the pattern is less clear. Interpretation of these findings remains speculative. Striking analogies with the spatial distribution of possible determinants in other geographical studies of the Brussels situation are pointed out and will be analysed in forthcoming research. Nevertheless, this analysis does provide an idea of mortality differences with routine data and relatively simple techniques. This is important in guiding further research and in health care planning and evaluation.