Analysis of health inequalities in the elderly and vulnerable population: 1960-2010

M. Gonzalvo-Cirac, M. Girabent, M.V. Roqué, I. Morales. Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Statistic and Epidemiology, Spain

This research describes and analyses the trend in life expectancy evolution in various European Union countries, from the early 1960s until today. It is during this period that gender-based differences begin reaching significant convergence between male and female’s life expectancy rates with the greatest convergence occurring in 2011, even though women still reach higher average life expectancy. In order to interpret this inequality trend regarding European life expectancy, a conceptual framework of the epidemiological transition theory has been used and applied at a micro level in Spain. This study aims to check the alignment and assimilation process of the current Spanish mortality trend to the features which define and characterise the final stages of the epidemiological transition. Meanwhile women continue to break the epidemiological patterns. Data and information compiled from the Eurostat as well as different mortality rate tables by sex and age have been used. Furthermore, based on the International Classification of Diseases, the leading causes of death since 1960 have been studied to assess the structural transformations that the population has experienced the increasing life expectancy rate, and its impact on health disparities taking into account the vulnerability of survival of the elderly current population.