ObjectiveHealth inequalities are universal, but their magnitude and determinants vary according to geographic areas, and understanding variations is essential to designing and implementing preventive and corrective policies. Our objective was to evaluate health inequalities in the Maresme region (Catalonia, Spain) and the relationship with socioeconomic indicators.DesignCross‐sectional ecological study (2017).SiteMaresme region.ParticipantsPopulation assigned to any of the Maresme's 21 basic health areas (BHAs).MeasuresSociodemographic, socioeconomic, health, and health resource use indicators published by the Catalan Health Service's Information and Knowledge Unit.ResultsDifferences observed between BHAs were 49% in mortality, 266% in diabetes incidence, 348% in stroke incidence, and 89% in hospitalizations. In the most compared to the least disadvantaged BHAs, socioeconomic deprivation, as measured by the socioeconomic index (SEI), was 4.6 times greater and the percentage population with low educational attainment (EA) was 3.7 times higher. Greater deprivation was associated with greater prevalence of diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and high blood pressure, and greater incidence of diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and cancer. Likewise, a greater percentage population with low EA was associated with higher premature mortality and avoidable hospitalizations.ConclusionGreat variation exists in socioeconomic, health, and health resource use between the different Maresme BHAs. Socioeconomic deprivation is strongly correlated with the prevalence and incidence of certain chronic diseases, and low EA is correlated with premature mortality and avoidable hospitalizations. Our findings point to the urgency of taking health inequalities into account in designing and implementing healthcare strategies, programs, and policies.

中文翻译：

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马雷斯梅地区（加泰罗尼亚）的健康不平等及其与社会经济指标的关系：横断面生态研究


目标健康不平等是普遍存在的，但其严重程度和决定因素因地理区域而异，了解差异对于设计和实施预防和纠正政策至关重要。我们的目标是评估马雷斯梅地区（西班牙加泰罗尼亚）的健康不平等状况以及与社会经济指标的关系。设计横断面生态研究（2017）。站点马雷斯梅地区。参与者分配到马雷斯梅 21 个基本卫生区域 (BHA) 中任何一个的人口。测量加泰罗尼亚卫生服务信息和知识部门发布的社会人口、社会经济、健康和卫生资源使用指标。结果观察到 BHA 之间的差异为死亡率 49%、糖尿病发病率 266%、中风发病率 348% 和住院率 89%。与处境最不利的 BHA 相比，以社会经济指数 (SEI) 衡量的社会经济剥夺程度高出 4.6 倍，教育程度 (EA) 较低的人口百分比高出 3.7 倍。剥夺程度越高，糖尿病、慢性阻塞性肺病和高血压的患病率越高，糖尿病、缺血性心脏病和癌症的发病率越高。同样，低 EA 的人口比例越高，过早死亡率越高，住院治疗也可以避免。 结论 不同 Maresme BHA 之间的社会经济、健康和卫生资源使用存在巨大差异。社会经济剥夺与某些慢性疾病的患病率和发病率密切相关，低 EA 与过早死亡和可避免的住院治疗相关。 我们的研究结果表明，在设计和实施医疗保健战略、计划和政策时迫切需要考虑健康不平等问题。