US MORTALITY BY ECONOMIC, DEMOGRAPHIC, AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS - THE NATIONAL LONGITUDINAL MORTALITY STUDY

Objectives. A large US sample was used to estimate the effects of race , employment status, income, education, occupation, marital status, an d household size on mortality. Methods. Approximately 530 000 persons 25 years of age or more were identified from selected Current Populati on Surveys between 1979 and 1985. These individuals were followed for mortality through use of the National Death Index for the years 1979 t hrough 1989. Results. Higher mortality was found in Blacks than in Whi tes less than 65 years of age; in persons not in the labor force, with lower incomes, with less education, and in service and other lower le vel occupations; and in persons not married and living alone. With occ asional exceptions, in specific sex and age groups, these relationship s were reduced but remained strong and statistically significant when each variable was adjusted for all of the other characteristics. The r elationships were generally weaker in individuals 65 years of age or m ore. Conclusions. Employment status, income, education, occupation, ra ce, and marital status have substantial net associations with mortalit y. This study identified segments of the population in need of public health attention and demonstrated the importance of including these va riables in morbidity and mortality studies.