The Reversal of Fortunes: Trends in County Mortality and Cross-County Mortality Disparities in the United States

Abstract

There was a steady increase in mortality inequality across the US counties between 1983 and 1999, resulting from stagnation or increase in mortality among the worst-off segment of the population. Female mortality increased in a large number of counties, primarily because of chronic diseases related to smoking, overweight and obesity, and high blood pressure.