Open AccessPersistent Clusters of Mortality in the United States
Author(s) -
Jeralynn S. Cossman,
Ronald E. Cossman,
Wesley James,
Carol R. Campbell,
Troy C. Blanchard,
Arthur G. Cosby
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2006.093112
Subject(s) - mortality rate , demography , population , geography , medicine , sociology
We explored how place shapes mortality by examining 35 consecutive years of US mortality data. Mapping age-adjusted county mortality rates showed both persistent temporal and spatial clustering of high and low mortality rates. Counties with high mortality rates and counties with low mortality rates both experienced younger population out-migration, had economic decline, and were predominantly rural. These mortality patterns have important implications for proper research model specification and for health resource allocation policies.