COVID-19 and deprivation amplification: An ecological study of geographical inequalities in mortality in England
International research has found that more deprived areas have fared worse in terms of COVID-19 mortality. However, there has been little exploration of the interaction of different geographical scales. Health geography’s concept of ‘deprivation amplification’ is potentially relevant to thinking about such issues.
This study uses age and ethnicity-adjusted COVID-19 mortality data from March 2020 to April 2021 for 6,791 Middle Super Output Areas (MSOAs) in England – stratified by deprivation and region. We examine whether more deprived MSOAs in the more deprived northern regions suffered greater COVID-19 mortality rates.
Spatial-lag models were used to examine any impact of spatial clustering and potential ‘spill-over’ effects between neighbouring MSOAs. The North West (25.5 COVID-19 deaths/10,000) and the North East (24.2/10,000) had the highest average COVID-19 mortality rates, compared to the South West (13.4/10,000). The most deprived 20% of MSOAs had higher mortality than the least deprived (8.2 more COVID-19 deaths/10,000). There were interactions in these geographical inequalities: deprived MSOAs in the north fared worse than equally deprived areas in the rest of England (3.1 more deaths/10,000; p<0.01). There was also strong evidence of spatial clustering and spill-overs: the COVID-19 mortality rate and deprivation levels of neighbouring areas impacted on the mortality of each MSOA. We discuss the implications of these findings in relation to the utility of ‘deprivation amplification’, the ‘syndemic pandemic’, and the wider health and place literature.
Speaker
Dr Luke Munford (University of Manchester, UK)Luke Munford is a Senior Lecturer in Health Economics at the University of Manchester, UK. His research predominantly focusses on applying econometric and statistical methods to secondary datasets to investigate the causes and consequences of (ill-) health. He is particularly interested in the relationships between ‘health’ and ‘wealth’ and whether the inequalities experienced by people and places in these outcomes are related. Luke co-leads the “Health in a wider context” research theme within the Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research. He has published on topics including: regional inequalities within England; the relationships between social participation, loneliness, and health; commuting behaviours and health and well-being; political ideology and health and well-being; and the responses of family doctors in England and financial incentives. He has given evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees and various MPs and members of the UK House of Lords on the role of health in improving economic outcomes. |
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CHE weekly seminar series
As part of the Centre for Health Economics’ vibrant research culture, we host a weekly seminar series. Visiting and invited researchers present current research relating to the economics of health and wellbeing, and the healthcare sector. Visitors are welcome to join these sessions where discussion and debate is encouraged. We aim to present all seminars in-person and also on Zoom.
Event Details
- Date:
- 30 November 2022 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
- Venue:
- Caulfield campus, Building H, Level 9, Room H921
- Categories:
- CHE Seminar; General; Health Economics
Description
International research has found that more deprived areas have fared worse in terms of COVID-19 mortality. However, there has been little exploration of the interaction of different geographical scales. Health geography’s concept of ‘deprivation amplification’ is potentially relevant to thinking about such issues.
This study uses age and ethnicity-adjusted COVID-19 mortality data from March 2020 to April 2021 for 6,791 Middle Super Output Areas (MSOAs) in England – stratified by deprivation and region. We examine whether more deprived MSOAs in the more deprived northern regions suffered greater COVID-19 mortality rates.
Spatial-lag models were used to examine any impact of spatial clustering and potential ‘spill-over’ effects between neighbouring MSOAs. The North West (25.5 COVID-19 deaths/10,000) and the North East (24.2/10,000) had the highest average COVID-19 mortality rates, compared to the South West (13.4/10,000). The most deprived 20% of MSOAs had higher mortality than the least deprived (8.2 more COVID-19 deaths/10,000). There were interactions in these geographical inequalities: deprived MSOAs in the north fared worse than equally deprived areas in the rest of England (3.1 more deaths/10,000; p<0.01). There was also strong evidence of spatial clustering and spill-overs: the COVID-19 mortality rate and deprivation levels of neighbouring areas impacted on the mortality of each MSOA. We discuss the implications of these findings in relation to the utility of ‘deprivation amplification’, the ‘syndemic pandemic’, and the wider health and place literature.
Speaker
Dr Luke Munford (University of Manchester, UK)Luke Munford is a Senior Lecturer in Health Economics at the University of Manchester, UK. His research predominantly focusses on applying econometric and statistical methods to secondary datasets to investigate the causes and consequences of (ill-) health. He is particularly interested in the relationships between ‘health’ and ‘wealth’ and whether the inequalities experienced by people and places in these outcomes are related. Luke co-leads the “Health in a wider context” research theme within the Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research. He has published on topics including: regional inequalities within England; the relationships between social participation, loneliness, and health; commuting behaviours and health and well-being; political ideology and health and well-being; and the responses of family doctors in England and financial incentives. He has given evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees and various MPs and members of the UK House of Lords on the role of health in improving economic outcomes. |
|
CHE weekly seminar series
As part of the Centre for Health Economics’ vibrant research culture, we host a weekly seminar series. Visiting and invited researchers present current research relating to the economics of health and wellbeing, and the healthcare sector. Visitors are welcome to join these sessions where discussion and debate is encouraged. We aim to present all seminars in-person and also on Zoom.