A Note on the Measurement of Socioeconomic Inequalities in Life Years Lost by Cause of Death

Abstract

Quantifying socioeconomic inequalities in health in absolute terms is of prime interest for decision-making and for international comparisons. The Slope Index of Inequality (SII), an index that quantifies absolute socioeconomic inequalities, was recently formalized, particularly in the context of mortality differences measured in the rate or hazard scale. However, absolute inequalities using either rates or hazards do not translate into a time dimension, which makes their interpretation difficult for policymakers. We propose an extension of the in terms of the expected number of life years lost before an upper age, as well as its decomposition by cause of death. The in the life years lost me..