PHANTOM OF THE AREA - POVERTY-AREA RESIDENCE AND MORTALITY IN THE UNITED-STATES

Objectives. The purpose of the study was to conduct a national multiva riate analysis on poverty-area residence and mortality in the United S tates. Methods. Proportional hazards analyses were performed of the ef fect of poverty-area residence on the risk of mortality among adult ex aminees in the 1971 through 1974 National Health and Nutrition Examina tion Survey who were followed through 1987. Results. Poverty-area resi dence was associated with significantly elevated risk of all-cause mor tality (rare ratio = 1.78, 95% confidence interval = 1.33, 2.38) and s ome cause-specific mortality among those aged 25 through 54 years, but not among those aged 55 through 74 years, at baseline after adjustmen t for several individual and household characteristics. Conclusions. R esidence in poverty areas contributes to socioeconomic gradients in mo rtality among nonelderly adults in the United States.