Is council tax valuation band a predictor of mortality?

BACKGROUND: All current UK indices of socio-economic status have inherent problems, especially those used to govern resource allocation to the health sphere. The search for improved markers continues: this study proposes and tests the possibility that Council Tax Valuation Band (CTVB) might match requirements. PRESENTATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS: To determine if there is an association between CTVB of final residence and mortality risk using the death registers of a UK general practice. TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS: Standardised death rates and odds ratios (ORs) for groups defined by CTVB of dwelling (A – H) were calculated using one in four denominator samples from the practice lists. Analyses were repeated three times – between number of deaths and CTVB of residence of deceased 1992 – 1994 inclusive, 1995 – 1997 inc., 1998 – 2000 inc. In 856 deaths there were consistent and significant differences in death rates between CTVBs: above average for bands A and B residents; below average for other band residents. There were significantly higher ORs for A, B residents who were female and who died prematurely (before average group life expectancy). IMPLICATIONS OF THE HYPOTHESIS: CTVB of final residence appears to be a proxy marker of mortality risk and could be a valuable indicator of health needs resource at household level. It is worthy of further exploration

Comparisons of depression, anxiety, well-being, and perceptions of the built environment amongst adults seeking social, intermediate and market-rent accommodation in the former London Olympic Athletes' Village.

The Examining Neighbourhood Activities in Built Living Environments in London (ENABLE London) study provides a unique opportunity to examine differences in mental health and well-being amongst adults seeking social, intermediate (affordable rent), and market-rent housing in a purpose built neighbourhood (East Village, the former London 2012 Olympic Athletes' Village), specifically designed to encourage positive health behaviours. Multi-level logistic regression models examined baseline differences in levels of depression, anxiety and well-being across the housing groups. Compared with the intermediate group, those seeking social housing were more likely to be depressed, anxious and had poorer well-being after adjustment for demographic and health status variables. Further adjustments for neighbourhood perceptions suggest that compared with the intermediate group, perceived neighbourhood characteristics may be an important determinant of depression amongst those seeking social housing, and lower levels of happiness the previous day amongst those seeking market-rent housing. These findings add to the extensive literature on inequalities in health, and provide a strong basis for future longitudinal work that will examine change in depression, anxiety and well-being after moving into East Village, where those seeking social housing potentially have the most to gain

An introduction to the OPCS Longitudinal Study

The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) Longitudinal Study (LS) is introduced, and its value for migration and area-based studies is highlighted. The LS is a 1% sample of records drawn from the 1971, 1981, and 1991 Censuses for England and Wales, to which are linked information on certain vital events (for example, births, deaths, and cancer registration) for the same individuals. The basis for selection is having one of four birthdates in the year. Although confidentiality constraints mean that individual-level data from the LS cannot be released, OPCS welcome analysis of the data, and arrangements for access and user support are described in the paper. Because most of the data sources that go to make up the LS contain some area coding, it is of considerable importance in urban and regional research and in migration studies. Those aspects of the LS of most relevance to this research area are reviewed, and the different geographical bases available are highlighted. Also, examples of the kinds of research that can be supported by the LS are provided.

Occupational class and ischemic heart disease mortality in the United States and 11 European countries.

OBJECTIVES: Twelve countries were compared with respect to occupational class differences in ischemic heart disease mortality in order to identify factors that are associated with smaller or larger mortality differences. METHODS: Data on mortality by occupational class among men aged 30 to 64 years were obtained from national longitudinal or cross-sectional studies for the 1980s. A common occupational class scheme was applied to most countries. Potential effects of the main data problems were evaluated quantitatively. RESULTS: A north-south contrast existed within Europe. In England and Wales, Ireland, and Nordic countries, manual classes had higher mortality rates than nonmanual classes. In France, Switzerland, and Mediterranean countries, manual classes had mortality rates as low as, or lower than, those among nonmanual classes. Compared with Northern Europe, mortality differences in the United States were smaller (among men aged 30-44 years) or about as large (among men aged 45-64 years). CONCLUSIONS: The results underline the highly variable nature of socioeconomic inequalities in ischemic heart disease mortality. These inequalities appear to be highly sensitive to social gradients in behavioral risk factors. These risk factor gradients are determined by cultural as well as socioeconomic developments