Cause-specific mortality and income inequality in São Paulo, Brazil

Bibliographic Data

ID9260245
AuthorsAlexandre D P Chiavegatto Filho (0000-0003-3251-9600), Sabina Léa Davidson Gotlieb (Harvard University), Ichiro Kawachi (0000-0003-3579-4456, Harvard University)
Year2012
Volume46
Issue4
Pages712-718
Publication date2012-08-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueRevista de Saúde Pública (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0034-8910 • E-ISSN: 0034-8910
PublisherFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/s0034-89102012000400016
OpenAlexW4250928589
SciELOS0034-89102012000400016
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited9

OBJECTIVE: To analyze cause-specific mortality rates according to the relative income hypothesis. METHODS: All 96 administrative areas of the city of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, were divided into two groups based on the Gini coefficient of income inequality: high (>0.25) and low (<0.25). The propensity score matching method was applied to control for confounders associated with socioeconomic differences among areas. RESULTS: The difference between high and low income inequality areas was statistically significant for homicide (8.57 per 10,000; 95%CI: 2.60;14.53); ischemic heart disease (5.47 per 10,000 [95%CI 0.76;10.17]); HIV/AIDS (3.58 per 10,000 [95%CI 0.58;6.57]); and respiratory diseases (3.56 per 10,000 [95%CI 0.18;6.94]). The ten most common causes of death accounted for 72.30% of the mortality difference. Infant mortality also had significantly higher age-adjusted rates in high inequality areas (2.80 per 10,000 [95%CI 0.86;4.74]), as well as among males (27.37 per 10,000 [95%CI 6.19;48.55]) and females (15.07 per 10,000 [95%CI 3.65;26.48]). CONCLUSIONS: The study results support the relative income hypothesis. After propensity score matching cause-specific mortality rates was higher in more unequal areas. Studies on income inequality in smaller areas should take proper accounting of heterogeneity of social and demographic characteristics

Confounding · Economic inequality · Environmental health · Gini coefficient · Homicide · Inequality · Injury prevention · Mortality rate · Poison control · Population · Propensity score matching · Socioeconomic status · Demography · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Global Maternal and Child Health · Health disparities and outcomes · Internal Medicine · Mathematics · Medicine

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