Cancer is overtaking cardiovascular disease as the main driver of socioeconomic inequalities in mortality: New Zealand (1981-99).

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Relative socioeconomic disparities in cardiovascular mortality have increased in New Zealand, as in many Western countries in Northern Europe, the US and Australia during the late 20th century. However, substantial declines in cardiovascular mortality mean that its absolute contribution to overall mortality has decreased. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: How did the absolute contribution of major causes of death to socioeconomic inequalities in New Zealand change during the 1980s and 90s? METHODS: Linked census-mortality cohorts were used to calculate the contribution of different causes of death to inequalities in mortality, measured with the slope index of inequality, by household income. R..