New insights into inequalities in life expectancy and mortality: evidence from an Individual-level Socio-Economic Index (ISEI) in Australia

Abstract

Background: Socio-economic inequalities in life expectancy and mortality have received significant academic and policy attention in many high-income countries. Most studies to date have measured area-level inequalities either using a composite socio-economic index or individual-level inequalities using a single or limited variables (e.g. education, income). However, these approaches might underestimate life expectancy inequalities compared to a composite index of individual-level socioeconomic characteristics. Methods: This study fills a major gap in evidence of life expectancy inequalities by analysing 2016 Population Census data linked at the individual level to death registration data fro..