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The geography of the highest mortality areas in Spain: a striking cluster in the southwestern region of the country
  1. J Benach1,
  2. Y Yasui2,
  3. J M Martínez3,
  4. C Borrell4,
  5. M I Pasarín5,
  6. A Daponte6
  1. 1Department of Experimental Sciences and Health, Occupational Health Research Unit, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
  2. 2Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, USA
  3. 3Department of Experimental Sciences and Health, Occupational Health Research Unit, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
  4. 4Agency of Public Health of Barcelona, Spain
  5. 5Agency of Public Health of Barcelona, Spain
  6. 6Andalusian School of Public Health, Granada, Spain
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr J Benach
 Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Department of Experimental Sciences and Health, Occupational Health Research Unit, Carrer Dr Aiguader 80, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; joan.benachupf.edu

Abstract

Aims: To determine the areas of Spain with the most increased mortality risk.

Methods: Age adjusted relative risk of death by gender was estimated in each of 2218 small areas of the country using a non-parametric empirical Bayes method. To determine areas with “significantly increased risk” a Poisson based score test was used.

Results: Mapping of the highest risk areas showed a striking geographical clustering in the southwestern region of the country. This region, comprising 8% of the Spanish population, accounts for about one third (2884 deaths) of the total excess mortality.

  • mortality
  • small areas
  • cluster
  • high risk
  • Spain

https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2002.001933

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    Footnotes

    • This study was partly funded by a grant from a Research Grant Programme on Health Targets from MSD