Smoking and the widening inequality in life expectancy between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas of the United States

ABSTRACT:

Background

Geographic inequality in US mortality has increased rapidly over the last 25 years, particularly between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. These gaps are sizeable and rival life expectancy differences between the US and other high-income countries. This study determines the contribution of smoking, a key contributor to premature mortality in the US, to geographic inequality in mortality over the past quarter century.

Methods

We used death certificate and census data covering the entire US population aged 50+ between Jan 1, 1990 and Dec 31, 2019. We categorized counties into 40 geographic areas cross-classified by region and metropolitan category. We estimated life expectancy at age 50 and the index of dissimilarity for mortality, a measure of inequality i

SUBMITTER: Hendi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9490306 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature