Analysis of Mortality in the Czech Republic Using the Newly Constructed Socioeconomic Deprivation Index

Abstract

ISEE-155 Objective: Progressive increase of mortality by level of deprivation is a serious social health problem in many countries. The aim of the study was the analysis of total and specific mortality in the Czech Republic by the authors' newly constructed socioeconomic deprivation index (SESDI). Material and Methods: Two census (2001) based indexes were constructed to indicate the level of deprivation in 77 districts—INDEX1 created according to the methodology of Townsend index and INDEX2 based on the methodology of indexes MATDEP and SOCDEP. Five material (ownership of accommodation (including cottage houses), car, phone, and density of housing) and 4 social factors (education, unemployment, singles' households, and incomplete families with children) were entered into the indexes. Data on total standardized mortality and specific mortality were used from the routinely collected health statistics sources. Correlation analysis was applied for the analysis of the relationship between the level of deprivation and mortality in the areas of interest for INDEX1 and INDEX2 and subgroups of INDEX2 for material and social factors. GIS was used for presentation of the results. Results: The correlation of the both indexes was high (r = 0.96), but INDEX2 showed higher correlations in relationship with mortality. Both in men and women a positive association was confirmed between the level of deprivation and total mortality (men r = 0.61, women r = 0.47), cancer mortality (r = 0.53/0.45), mortality for gastrointestinal diseases (r = 0.50/0.38), and mortality for lung cancer in men (r = 0.55). These associations were stronger in men than in women. The results also showed that the investigated total and specific mortality in men and women is more strongly correlated with factors of social deprivation than material deprivation. Conclusions: In the Czech Republic, positive association was confirmed between the level of deprivation and total and specific mortality. Mortality in men and women was more strongly correlated with factors of social than material deprivation.