Place of death and associated factors: a population-based study using death certificate data.

BACKGROUND: Although studies suggest that most people prefer to die at home, not enough is known about place of death patterns by cause of death considering sociodemographic factors. The objective of this study was to determine the place of death in the population and to analyze the sociodemographic variables and causes of death associated with home as the place of death. METHODS: Cross-sectional population-based study. All death certificate data on the residents in Spain aged 15 or over who died in Spain between 2012 and 2015 were included. We employed multinomial logistic regression to explore the relation between place of death, sociodemographic variables and cause of death classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, and to conditions needing palliative care. RESULTS: Over half of all deaths occurred in hospital (57.4%), representing double the frequency of deaths that occurred at home. All the sociodemographic variables (sex, educational level, urbanization level, marital status, age and country of birth) were associated with place of death, although age presented the strongest association. Cause of death was the main predictor with heart disease, neurodegenerative disease, Alzheimer's disease, dementia and senility accounting for the highest percentages of home deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Most people die in hospital. Cause of death presented a stronger association with place of death than sociodemographic variables; of these latter, age, urbanization level and marital status were the main predictors. These results will prove useful in planning end-of-life care that is more closely tailored to people's circumstances and needs.

Economic Crisis and Amenable Mortality in Spain.

Background: Both overall mortality and avoidable mortality have decreased in recent years in most European countries. It has become clear that less privileged socioeconomic groups have an increased risk of death. In 2008, most countries went into a severe economic recession, whose effects on the health of the population are still ongoing. While on the one hand, some evidence associates the economic crisis with positive health outcomes (pro-cyclical effect), on the other hand, some other evidence suggests that the economic crisis may pose serious public health problems (counter-cyclical effect), which has given rise to controversy. Objectives: To describe the evolution of overall mortality and amenable mortality in Spain between 2002⁻2007 (before the economic crisis) and 2008⁻2013 (during the economic crisis), nationally and by province, as well as to analyse trends in the risks of death and their association with indicators of the impact of the crisis. Methods: Ecological study of overall mortality and amenable mortality describing the evolution of the risks of death between 2002⁻2007 and 2008⁻2013. Age Standardised Rates were calculated, as well as their percentage change between periods. The association between percentage changes and provincial indicators of the impact of the crisis was analysed. Amenable mortality was studied both overall and categorised into five groups. Results: Amenable mortality represented 8.25% of overall mortality in 2002⁻2007, and 6.93% in 2008⁻2013. Age Standardised Rates for overall mortality and global amenable mortality generally declined, with the sharpest decline in amenable mortality. Decreases in overall mortality and amenable mortality were directly related to vulnerability indicators. The most significant decreases were registered in ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and other amenable causes. The relationship with vulnerability indices varied from direct (cancer) to inverse (hypertensive disease). Conclusions: Amenable mortality shows a more significant decrease than overall mortality between both study periods, albeit unevenly between provinces causes of death. Higher vulnerability indicators entail greater declines, although this trend varied for different causes. Mortality trends and their relationship with socioeconomic indicators in a situation of crisis must be conducted cautiously, taking into consideration a possible pro-cyclical effect.

Point process methods in epidemiology: application to the analysis of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome mortality in urban areas.

The analysis of spatio-temporal patterns of disease or death in urban areas has been developed mainly from the ecological studies approach. These designs may have some limitations like the ecological fallacy and instability with few cases. The objective of this study was to apply the point process methodology, as a complement to that of aggregated data, to study HIV/AIDS mortality in men in the city of Alicante (Spain). A case-control study in residents in the city during the period 2004-2011 was designed. Cases were men who died from HIV/AIDS and controls represented the general population, matched by age to cases. The risk surfaces of death over the city were estimated using the log-risk function of intensities, and we contrasted their temporal variations over the two periods. High risk significant areas of death by HIV/AIDS, which coincide with the most deprived areas in the city, were detected. Significant spatial change of the areas at risk between the periods studied was not detected. The point process methodology is a useful tool to analyse the patterns of death by HIV/AIDS in urban areas.

Self-rated health and hospital services use in the Spanish National Health System: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Self-rated health is a subjective measure that has been related to indicators such as mortality, morbidity, functional capacity, and the use of health services. In Spain, there are few longitudinal studies associating self-rated health with hospital services use. The purpose of this study is to analyze the association between self-rated health and socioeconomic, demographic, and health variables, and the use of hospital services among the general population in the Region of Valencia, Spain. METHODS: Longitudinal study of 5,275 adults who were included in the 2005 Region of Valencia Health Survey and linked to the Minimum Hospital Data Set between 2006 and 2009. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the odds ratios between use of hospital services and self-rated health, sex, age, educational level, employment status, income, country of birth, chronic conditions, disability and previous use of hospital services. RESULTS: By the end of a 4-year follow-up period, 1,184 participants (22.4%) had used hospital services. Use of hospital services was associated with poor self-rated health among both men and women. In men, it was also associated with unemployment, low income, and the presence of a chronic disease. In women, it was associated with low educational level, the presence of a disability, previous hospital services use, and the presence of chronic disease. Interactions were detected between self-rated health and chronic disease in men and between self-rated health and educational level in women. CONCLUSIONS: Self-rated health acts as a predictor of hospital services use. Various health and socioeconomic variables provide additional predictive capacity. Interactions were detected between self-rated health and other variables that may reflect different complex predictive models, by gender.

Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in preventable mortality in urban areas of 33 Spanish cities, 1996-2007 (MEDEA project).

BACKGROUND: Preventable mortality is a good indicator of possible problems to be investigated in the primary prevention chain, making it also a useful tool with which to evaluate health policies particularly public health policies. This study describes inequalities in preventable avoidable mortality in relation to socioeconomic status in small urban areas of thirty three Spanish cities, and analyses their evolution over the course of the periods 1996-2001 and 2002-2007. METHODS: We analysed census tracts and all deaths occurring in the population residing in these cities from 1996 to 2007 were taken into account. The causes included in the study were lung cancer, cirrhosis, AIDS/HIV, motor vehicle traffic accidents injuries, suicide and homicide. The census tracts were classified into three groups, according their socioeconomic level. To analyse inequalities in mortality risks between the highest and lowest socioeconomic levels and over different periods, for each city and separating by sex, Poisson regression were used. RESULTS: Preventable avoidable mortality made a significant contribution to general mortality (around 7.5%, higher among men), having decreased over time in men (12.7 in 1996-2001 and 10.9 in 2002-2007), though not so clearly among women (3.3% in 1996-2001 and 2.9% in 2002-2007). It has been observed in men that the risks of death are higher in areas of greater deprivation, and that these excesses have not modified over time. The result in women is different and differences in mortality risks by socioeconomic level could not be established in many cities. CONCLUSIONS: Preventable mortality decreased between the 1996-2001 and 2002-2007 periods, more markedly in men than in women. There were socioeconomic inequalities in mortality in most cities analysed, associating a higher risk of death with higher levels of deprivation. Inequalities have remained over the two periods analysed. This study makes it possible to identify those areas where excess preventable mortality was associated with more deprived zones. It is in these deprived zones where actions to reduce and monitor health inequalities should be put into place. Primary healthcare may play an important role in this process.

Trends in mortality due to motor vehicle traffic accident injuries between 1987 and 2011 in a Spanish region (Comunitat Valenciana).

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the time evolution of the rates of mortality due to motor vehicle traffic accidents (MVTA) injuries that occurred among the general population of Comunitat Valenciana between 1987 and 2011, as well as to identify trend changes by sex and age group. METHODS: An observational study of annual mortality trends between 1987 and 2011. We studied all deaths due to MVTA injuries that occurred during this period of time among the non-institutionalised population residing in Comunitat Valenciana (a Spanish Mediterranean region that had a population of 5,117,190 inhabitants in 2011). The rates of mortality due to MVTA injuries were calculated for each sex and year studied. These rates were standardised by age for the total population and for specific age groups using the direct method (age-standardised rate - ASR). Joinpoint regression models were used in order to detect significant trend changes. Additionally, the annual percentage change (APC) of the ASRs was calculated for each trend segment, which is reflected in statistically significant joinpoints. RESULTS: For all ages, ASRs decrease greatly in both men and women (70% decrease between 1990 and 2011). In 1990 and 2011, men have rates of 36.5 and 5.2 per 100,000 men/year, respectively. In the same years, women have rates of 8.0 and 0.9 per 100,000 women/year, respectively. This decrease reaches up to 90% in the age group 15-34 years in both men and women. ASR ratios for men and women increased over time for all ages: this ratio was 3.9 in 1987; 4.6 in 1990; and 5.8 in 2011. For both men and women, there is a first significant segment (p<0.05) with an increasing trend between 1987 and 1989-1990. After 1990, there are 3 segments with a significant decreasing APC (1990-1993, 1993-2005 and 2005-2011, in the case of men; and 1989-1996, 1999-2007 and 2007-2011, in the case of women). CONCLUSION: The risk of death due to motor vehicle traffic accidents injuries has decreased significantly, especially in the case of women, for the last 25 years in Comunitat Valenciana, mainly as of 2006. This may be a consequence of the road-safety measures that have been implemented in Spain and in Comunitat Valenciana since 2004. The economic crisis that this country has undergone since 2008 may have also been a contributing factor to this decrease. Despite the decrease, ASR ratios for men and women increased over time and it is still a high-risk cause of death among young men. It is thus important that the measures that helped decrease the risk of death are maintained and improved over time.

Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in amenable mortality in urban areas of Spanish cities, 1996-2007.

BACKGROUND: While research continues into indicators such as preventable and amenable mortality in order to evaluate quality, access, and equity in the healthcare, it is also necessary to continue identifying the areas of greatest risk owing to these causes of death in urban areas of large cities, where a large part of the population is concentrated, in order to carry out specific actions and reduce inequalities in mortality. This study describes inequalities in amenable mortality in relation to socioeconomic status in small urban areas, and analyses their evolution over the course of the periods 1996-99, 2000-2003 and 2004-2007 in three major cities in the Spanish Mediterranean coast (Alicante, Castellón, and Valencia). METHODS: All deaths attributed to amenable causes were analysed among non-institutionalised residents in the three cities studied over the course of the study periods. Census tracts for the cities were grouped into 3 socioeconomic status levels, from higher to lower levels of deprivation, using 5 indicators obtained from the 2001 Spanish Population Census. For each city, the relative risks of death were estimated between socioeconomic status levels using Poisson's Regression models, adjusted for age and study period, and distinguishing between genders. RESULTS: Amenable mortality contributes significantly to general mortality (around 10%, higher among men), having decreased over time in the three cities studied for men and women. In the three cities studied, with a high degree of consistency, it has been seen that the risks of mortality are greater in areas of higher deprivation, and that these excesses have not significantly modified over time. CONCLUSIONS: Although amenable mortality decreases over the time period studied, the socioeconomic inequalities observed are maintained in the three cities. Areas have been identified that display excesses in amenable mortality, potentially attributable to differences in the healthcare system, associated with areas of greater deprivation. Action must be taken in these areas of greater inequality in order to reduce the health inequalities detected. The causes behind socioeconomic inequalities in amenable mortality must be studied in depth.

Preventable avoidable mortality: evolution of socioeconomic inequalities in urban areas in Spain, 1996-2003.

This study describes the inequalities in preventable avoidable mortality in relation to socioeconomic levels and analyses their evolution during the period 1996-2003 in the cities of Alicante, Castellon and Valencia. Four causes of preventable avoidable mortality were analysed according to sex: malignant tumour of the trachea, bronchus and lung, cirrhosis and other chronic diseases of the liver, motor vehicle accidents and AIDS, which had caused the death of non-institutionalised residents in the three cities during the period 1996-2003. The different census tracts were grouped into three socioeconomic levels. In general, socioeconomic inequalities in preventable avoidable mortality remain constant in time, except the ones caused by AIDS in Valencia, where they increase for men. Some census tracts in the three cities where the study was carried out were found to have significantly higher preventable mortality rates, and therefore require intervention.

Impact of a mammography screening programme on the breast cancer population of the Region of Valencia (Spain).

OBJECTIVE: Randomised clinical trials with a control arm of non-screened patients are nowadays ethically impossible. The aim of this study was to establish the impact of mammography screening on a non-selected population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1993 and December 2002, 3662 patients were included, 2313 in the screened group and 1349 in the unscreened group. RESULTS: 55.3% of the screened patients were diagnosed in stage I vs. 26.1% in the non-screened group. The proportion of stage III-IV was 4.6% and 19.8% for the screened and unscreened groups respectively (p<0.001). 48.8% in the screening group were submitted to mastectomy vs. 66.4% of the unscreened patients (p<0.001). Overall survival was superior for the prevalent cases in the screening group, with a relative risk of 0.49, and was not significant for the incident cases. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of breast cancer in the mammography screening programme of the Region of Valencia significantly increases conservative surgery rates and suggests an improvement in survival in prevalent cases. The increased rate of early stages in these patients could be the main reason of this benefit.

[Avoidable mortality. Changes in the new century?]. / La mortalidad evitable. Cambios en el nuevo siglo?

OBJECTIVES: To analyze time trends and the geographical distribution of avoidable mortality in the autonomous community of Valencia and its health departments by sex in the periods 1990-1994, 1995-1999, and 2000-2004. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty-one causes of avoidable mortality were analyzed. The deaths analyzed corresponded to residents in the autonomous community of Valencia between 1990 and 2004. Age-standardized mortality rates were calculated using the direct method. To study time trends in the geographical area of interest for each period and sex, comparative mortality ratios were calculated. To analyze geographical distribution, standardized mortality rates were calculated by the indirect method. RESULTS: The total number of avoidable deaths was 38,061 (7.1% of overall deaths). Men accounted for 76.2% and women for 23.8%. By groups, 82.4% were preventable and 17.6% were treatable. Preventable deaths represented 86.5% of deaths in men and 69.4% of those in women. Avoidable mortality in Valencia significantly decreased in both sexes, this decrease being more marked in the group of treatable deaths and in men. Mortality from lung cancer in women significantly increased. Between 2000 and 2004, none of the health departments showed a significant excess of treatable mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In the autonomous community of Valencia, there was a greater decrease in avoidable mortality than in general mortality. The increase in lung cancer in women was notable.

La mortalidad evitable. ¿Cambios en el nuevo siglo? / Avoidable mortality. Changes in the new century?

Objetivos: Estudiar la evolución temporal y la distribución geográfica de la mortalidad evitable en la Comunidad Valenciana y en sus Departamentos de Salud por sexo, en los períodos 1990-1994, 1995-1999 y 2000-2004. Material y método: Se han analizado 21 causas de mortalidad evitable agrupándolas en tratables y prevenibles. Las defunciones analizadas corresponden a residentes en la Comunidad Valenciana durante el período 1990-2004. Se han calculado las tasas ajustadas por edad (método directo) y las razones de mortalidad comparativas para el estudio de la evolución temporal en los ámbitos geográficos indicados por período y sexo. Las razones de mortalidad estandarizadas (método indirecto) se han utilizado en el análisis de la distribución geográfica. Resultados: El total de defunciones evitables son 38.061 (un 7,1% de la mortalidad global), el 76,2% corresponden a varones y el 23,8% a mujeres. Por grupos, el 82,4% son prevenibles y el 17,6% tratables. En varones, las prevenibles representan un 86,5%, y en mujeres un 69,4%. En la Comunidad Valenciana se observan descensos significativos de la mortalidad evitable en ambos sexos, más acusados en las tratables, y en hombres. La mortalidad por cáncer de pulmón en mujeres presenta un aumento significativo. En 2000-2004 ningún departamento de salud presenta excesos de mortalidad estadísticamente significativos en las tratables. Conclusiones: La mortalidad evitable desciende más que la mortalidad general en la Comunidad Valenciana. Cabe destacar el aumento de la mortalidad por cáncer de pulmón en las mujeres

Objectives: To analyze time trends and the geographical distribution of avoidable mortality in the autonomous community of Valencia and its health departments by sex in the periods 1990-1994, 1995-1999, and 2000-2004. Material and method: Twenty-one causes of avoidable mortality were analyzed. The deaths analyzed corresponded to residents in the autonomous community of Valencia between 1990 and 2004. Age-standardized mortality rates were calculated using the direct method. To study time trends in the geographical area of interest for each period and sex, comparative mortality ratios were calculated. To analyze geographical distribution, standardized mortality rates were calculated by the indirect method. Results: The total number of avoidable deaths was 38,061 (7.1% of overall deaths). Men accounted for 76.2% and women for 23.8%. By groups, 82.4% were preventable and 17.6% were treatable. Preventable deaths represented 86.5% of deaths in men and 69.4% of those in women. Avoidable mortality in Valencia significantly decreased in both sexes, this decrease being more marked in the group of treatable deaths and in men. Mortality from lung cancer in women significantly increased. Between 2000 and 2004, none of the health departments showed a significant excess of treatable mortality. Conclusions: In the autonomous community of Valencia, there was a greater decrease in avoidable mortality than in general mortality. The increase in lung cancer in women was notable

Spatial analysis of the relationship between mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and drinking water hardness.

Previously published scientific papers have reported a negative correlation between drinking water hardness and cardiovascular mortality. Some ecologic and case-control studies suggest the protective effect of calcium and magnesium concentration in drinking water. In this article we present an analysis of this protective relationship in 538 municipalities of Comunidad Valenciana (Spain) from 1991-1998. We used the Spanish version of the Rapid Inquiry Facility (RIF) developed under the European Environment and Health Information System (EUROHEIS) research project. The strategy of analysis used in our study conforms to the exploratory nature of the RIF that is used as a tool to obtain quick and flexible insight into epidemiologic surveillance problems. This article describes the use of the RIF to explore possible associations between disease indicators and environmental factors. We used exposure analysis to assess the effect of both protective factors--calcium and magnesium--on mortality from cerebrovascular (ICD-9 430-438) and ischemic heart (ICD-9 410-414) diseases. This study provides statistical evidence of the relationship between mortality from cardiovascular diseases and hardness of drinking water. This relationship is stronger in cerebrovascular disease than in ischemic heart disease, is more pronounced for women than for men, and is more apparent with magnesium than with calcium concentration levels. Nevertheless, the protective nature of these two factors is not clearly established. Our results suggest the possibility of protectiveness but cannot be claimed as conclusive. The weak effects of these covariates make it difficult to separate them from the influence of socioeconomic and environmental factors. We have also performed disease mapping of standardized mortality ratios to detect clusters of municipalities with high risk. Further standardization by levels of calcium and magnesium in drinking water shows changes in the maps when we remove the effect of these covariates.

[Mortality surveillance in cities: results in Valencia and Alicante, [Spain]]. / Análisis de la mortalidad en ciudades: resultados en Valencia y Alicante.

OBJECTIVES: To describe mortality patterns, in general and by selected specific causes in Valencia and Alicante, to establish internal inequalities by districts, and to evaluate changes in the magnitude of these inequalities over time. METHODS: Deaths among residents of Valencia and Alicante in the periods 1990-1992 and 1996-1998 were assigned to residential municipal districts. Comparisons between the periods studied and between cities were carried out using the relative risk derived from a Poisson regression model. A comparative mortality figure was calculated using the 17 largest groups of the 9th International Classification of Diseases. Rates adjusted by the direct method, standardized mortality ratio, potential years of life lost (PYLL) ratio and life expectancy at birth were calculated by districts in each study period. RESULTS: The risks of death from all causes decreased between the first and second periods in both men and women in both cities. Life expectancy significantly increased in both cities for men and in Valencia for women. The city of Valencia had the greatest risk of death in both periods. Some causes of death increased (groups 5 and 6, mental and nervous system disorders and sensory organ diseases). By districts, there was greater variability in Valencia than in Alicante, especially in districts 1 and 11 in Valencia, which showed a high risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: The process of internal mortality surveillance by districts is reproducible. In the city of Valencia there were inequalities in mortality that were maintained over time. The city of Alicante showed less internal variability in its mortality indicators.

Análisis de la mortalidad en ciudades: resultados en Valencia y Alicante / Mortality surveillance in cities: results in Valencia and Alicante, [Spain]

Objetivos: Describir los patrones de mortalidad, general y por causas específicas seleccionadas, en Valencia y Alicante; establecer las diferencias internas por distritos, y evaluar los cambios en la magnitud de estas desigualdades en el tiempo. Métodos: Las defunciones ocurridas en residentes en las ciudades de Valencia y Alicante durante los períodos 1990-1992 y 1996-1998 se asignaron a los distritos municipales de residencia. La comparación entre los períodos de estudio o entre ciudades se ha realizado a través del riesgo relativo estimado mediante regresión de Poisson. Se calculó la razón comparativa de mortalidad (RCM) según los 17 grandes grupos de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades (9.ª revisión). Por distritos se han calculado en cada período de estudio las tasas ajustadas por el método directo, la razón de mortalidad estandarizada (RME), la razón de años potenciales de vida perdida (RAPVP) y la esperanza de vida al nacimiento. Resultados: Los riesgos de muerte por todas las causas disminuyen del primer al segundo período tanto en varones, como en mujeres en ambas ciudades. La esperanza de vida aumenta significativamente en ambas ciudades en los varones, y en Valencia en las mujeres. La ciudad de Valencia presenta un mayor riesgo de muerte en ambos períodos. Algunos grupos de causas de muerte aumentan (grupos 5 y 6, que incluyen trastornos mentales y enfermedades del sistema nervioso y órganos de los sentidos). Por distritos, se observa una mayor variabilidad en Valencia --donde destacan los distritos 1 y 11 con un elevado riesgo de mortalidad-- que en Alicante. Conclusiones: El proceso de vigilancia de la mortalidad interna, por distritos, es reproducible. En la ciudad de Valencia existen diferencias en la mortalidad que se mantienen en el tiempo. La ciudad de Alicante presenta una menor variabilidad interna en sus indicadores de mortalidad (AU)