Abstract

OBJECTIVESTo examine the income gaps associated with self-rated poor health at the district level in Korea and to identify the geographical correlations between self-rated poor health, life expectancy, and the associated income gaps.METHODSWe analyzed data for 1,578,189 participants from the Community Health Survey of Korea collected between 2008 and 2014. The age-standardized prevalence of self-rated poor health and the associated income gaps were calculated. Previously released data on life expectancy and the associated income gaps were also used. We performed correlation and regression analyses for self-rated poor health, life expectancy, and associated income gaps.RESULTSAcross 245 districts, the median prevalence of self-rated poor health was 15.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.6 to 16.8%), with interquartile range (IQR) of 3.1 percentage points (%p). The median interquintile gaps in the prevalence of self-rated poor health was 11.1%p (95% CI, 8.1 to 14.5%p), with IQR of 3.6%p. Pro-rich inequalities in self-rated health were observed across all 245 districts of Korea. The correlation coefficients for the association between self-rated poor health and the associated income gaps, self-rated poor health and life expectancy, and income gaps associated with self-rated poor health and life expectancy were 0.59, 0.78 and 0.55 respectively.CONCLUSIONSIncome gaps associated with self-rated poor health were evident across all districts in Korea. The magnitude of income gaps associated with self-rated poor health was larger in the districts with greater prevalence of self-rated poor health. A strong correlation between self-rated poor health and life expectancy was also observed.

Highlights

  • Self-rated health is known to be a predictor of mortality [1]

  • This study aimed to examine the income gaps in self-rated poor health of 245 si, gun, and gu in Korea, and to investigate the correlation with the income gap in life expectancy reported in the previous study

  • Our results showed a clear income gap in self-rated poor health in all 245 si, gun, and gu

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Summary

Introduction

Self-rated health is known to be a predictor of mortality [1]. In measuring the magnitude of socioeconomic inequalities in health, it is necessary to use subjective health indicators such as self-rated health as well as objective health indicators such as mortality. The third National Health Plan 2020 identified the reduction of health inequality according to geographical areas and income levels as the health equity targets [9]. This was continued in the most recent fourth National Health Plan 2020 established in 2015 [10]. Policies to reduce health inequality are most effective when local government

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