Persistent and extreme outliers in causes of death by state, 1999-2013

Heterogeneity in Disparities in Life Expectancy Across US Metropolitan Areas

BACKGROUND

Life expectancy in the United States has declined since 2014 but characterization of disparities within and across metropolitan areas of the country is lacking.

METHODS

Using census tract-level life expectancy from the 2010 to 2015 US Small-area Life Expectancy Estimates Project, we calculate 10 measures of total and income-based disparities in life expectancy at birth, age 25, and age 65 within and across 377 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) of the United States.

RESULTS

We found wide heterogeneity in disparities in life expectancy at birth across MSAs and regions: MSAs in the West show the narrowest disparities (absolute disparity: 8.7 years, relative disparity: 1.1), while MSAs in the South (absolute disparity: 9.1 years, relative disparity: 1.1) and Midwest (absolute disparity: 9.8 years, relative disparity: 1.1) have the widest life expectancy disparities. We also observed greater variability in life expectancy across MSAs for lower income census tracts (coefficient of variation [CoV] 3.7 for first vs. tenth decile of income) than for higher income census tracts (CoV 2.3). Finally, we found that a series of MSA-level variables, including larger MSAs and greater proportion college graduates, predicted wider life expectancy disparities for all age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Sociodemographic and policy factors likely help explain variation in life expectancy disparities within and across metro areas.

Trauma Recidivism Predicts Long-term Mortality: Missed Opportunities for Prevention (Retrospective Cohort Study)

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to determine the association between recurrent trauma admissions (recidivism) and subsequent long-term mortality, and to identify those in most need for preventive interventions.

BACKGROUND

Patients with a single intentional injury have been shown to have a higher risk of future injury mortality than those with unintentional injury with 5-year mortality rates as high as 20% being reported for recurrent penetrating trauma. Trauma recidivism identifies a high-risk population, but its association with long-term mortality is largely unknown.

METHODS

Patients with 1 or more previous admissions to an urban trauma center (recidivists) were identified and compared with those with single admissions (nonrecidivists) from 1997 to 2008. The trauma registry was linked to the National Death Index to determine both the cause and time to death after hospital discharge. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and Cox proportional-hazards models.

RESULTS

Trauma recidivists were 7% of the total trauma population from 1997 to 2008, representing 3147 patients. Recidivists were more likely to be male (P < 0.0001), Black (P < 0.0001), have a blood alcohol content above 80 mg/dL (P < 0.0001), and suffer a penetrating injury (P < 0.0001) compared with nonrecidivists. Recidivists with both initial blunt and penetrating injuries had higher rates of long-term mortality after discharge. Recidivists were more likely to die of any cause based on Cox proportional-hazard ratios [hazard ratio (HR) 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57-2.01], injury death (HR 2.02, 95% CI 1.66-2.47), and disease death (HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.41-1.92) than nonrecidivists.

CONCLUSIONS

Male sex, Black race, and elevated blood alcohol content and penetrating injury are associated with trauma recidivism which leads to a higher risk of death. There is a critical public health need to develop interventions to reduce trauma recidivism and preventable death.