Work

Black–White Differences in Infectious Disease Mortality in the United States

Year: 2001

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: This study determined the degree to which Black-White differences in infectious disease mortality are explained by income and education and the extent to which infectious diseases contribute to Black-White differences in all-cause mortality. METHODS: A sample population of the National Longitudinal Mortality Study from 1979 through 1981 was analyzed and followed up through 1989. RESULTS: Infectious disease mortality among Blacks was higher than among Whites, with a relative risk of 1.53 after adjustment for age and sex and 1.34 after further adjustment for income and education. Death from infectious diseases contributed to 9.3% of the difference in all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In the United States, infectious diseases account for nearly 10% of the excess all-cause mortality rates in Blacks compared with Whites.

Source: American Journal of Public Health

DOI: 10.2105/ajph.91.8.1251

Authors: Jan H. Richardus, Anton E. Kunst

Institution: Erasmus University Rotterdam

Language: English

Topic: Health disparities and outcomes

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam