Relative importance of urbanicity, ethnicity and socioeconomic factors regarding area mortality differences.

A higher mortality rate in areas with increased socioeconomic deprivation has been found in many studies. Results are diYcult to compare, however, because diVerent indicators of area deprivation have been used. USA-based studies mostly use income to measure area deprivation, 2 whereas UK-based studies often use unemployment and occupational level, but never income. 4 Little is known of the relative discriminatory power of these and other indicators. The aim of this study is to examine the relative importance of income and dependence on benefits when looking at small area diVerences in premature mortality, and the influence of other area characteristics such as ethnicity and urbanicity.