Quantifying the impact of reducing socioeconomic inequalities in modifiable risk factors on mortality and mortality inequalities in South Korea.

Abstract

We quantified the impact of reducing socioeconomic inequalities in risk factors on mortality and mortality inequalities in South Korea. The mortality risk function from the 12-year mortality follow-up data of the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort, the prevalence of major risk factors from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2015, and the Health Plan 2020 (HP2020) goals for major risk factors were used to estimate the magnitude of reduction in mortality inequalities by changing the magnitude of income-based inequalities in risk factors in various scenarios under gender-specific models among participants aged 40-79years. The greatest reduction in absolute and relative inequalities in mortality would occur if the low-income group achieved the HP2020 goals earlier than the high-income group. A 10-20% reduction in all-cause mortality inequalities was expected if absolute gaps between income groups in risk factors were halved. With the practical goal halving the socioeconomic gaps in modifiable risk factors, reducing inequalities in all-cause mortality by 10-20% would be possible. Further reduction in mortality inequalities would need more aggressive policies on social determinants of health.