TABLE 2—
Relative Disparities in Mortality by Educational Level as Measured by the Rate Ratio and the Relative Index of Inequality for Men and Women Aged 25–64 Years: Colombia, 1998–2002 and 2003–2007
| Men |
Women |
|||
| 1998–2002, RR (95% CI) | 2003–2007, RR (95% CI) | 1998–2002, RR (95% CI) | 2003–2007, RR (95% CI) | |
| All-cause mortality | ||||
| Model 1a | ||||
| Tertiary education (Ref) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Secondary education | 1.80 (1.76, 1.84) | 1.96 (1.91, 2.00) | 1.63 (1.56, 1.70) | 1.69 (1.64, 1.74) |
| Primary education | 2.41 (2.36, 2.47) | 2.76 (2.68, 2.83) | 2.43 (2.34, 2.52) | 2.56 (2.49, 2.63) |
| Year | 0.92 (0.91, 0.94) | 0.97 (0.96, 0.99) | 0.95 (0.93, 0.98) | 0.99 (0.97, 1.01) |
| Secondary × year | 1.09 (1.07, 1.11) | 1.00 (0.98, 1.02) | 1.04 (1.02, 1.07) | 0.99 (0.97, 1.01) |
| Primary × year | 1.11 (1.09, 1.13) | 1.00 (0.99, 1.02) | 1.04 (1.02, 1.07) | 0.99 (0.97, 1.01) |
| Model 2 | ||||
| Relative index of inequality | 2.59 (2.52, 2.67) | 3.07 (2.99, 3.15) | 2.86 (2.77, 2.95) | 3.12 (3.03, 3.21) |
| Year | 0.95 (0.94, 0.96) | 0.96 (0.95, 0.97) | 0.96 (0.95, 0.98) | 0.97 (0.96, 0.99) |
| Relative index of inequality × year | 1.11 (1.09, 1.13) | 1.01 (1.00, 1.03) | 1.04 (1.02, 1.06) | 1.00 (0.98, 1.02) |
| Cardiovascular disease mortality | ||||
| Model 1a | ||||
| Tertiary education (Ref) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Secondary education | 1.47 (1.40, 1.54) | 1.55 (1.47, 1.62) | 1.73 (1.56, 1.90) | 1.85 (1.69, 2.03) |
| Primary education | 1.70 (1.63, 1.78) | 1.97 (1.88, 2.05) | 2.76 (2.50, 3.05) | 3.20 (2.96, 3.46) |
| Year | 0.91 (0.88, 0.96) | 0.96 (0.92, 1.00) | 0.91 (0.86, 0.97) | 0.96 (0.91, 1.01) |
| Secondary × year | 1.06 (1.01, 1.11) | 1.03 (0.99, 1.08) | 1.06 (0.99, 1.12) | 1.02 (0.97, 1.08) |
| Primary × year | 1.08 (1.03, 1.13) | 1.03 (0.99, 1.08) | 1.07 (1.01, 1.14) | 1.02 (0.96, 1.07) |
| Model 2 | ||||
| Relative index of inequality | 1.75 (1.66, 1.84) | 2.18 (2.07, 2.29) | 3.33 (3.10, 3.59) | 4.20 (3.94, 4.47) |
| Year | 0.92 (0.90, 0.95) | 0.97 (0.95, 1.00) | 0.92 (0.89, 0.95) | 0.96 (0.93, 0.99) |
| Relative index of inequality × year | 1.09 (1.04, 1.14) | 1.02 (0.98, 1.06) | 1.07 (1.02, 1.12) | 1.01 (0.96, 1.05) |
Note. CI = confidence interval; RR = rate ratio. Table presents estimates that combine results from 5 databases generated by multiple imputation, appropriately reflecting uncertainty attributable to missing values. Model 1 shows RRs from a model that includes as independent variables educational level, age in 5-year age categories, a linear year trend, and an interaction between educational level and the linear year trend. Model 2 estimates the relative index of inequality based on a regression of mortality on the midpoint of the cumulative distribution of education, age in 5-year age categories, a linear year trend, and an interaction between the midpoint of the cumulative distribution of education and the linear year trend. It can be interpreted as the ratio of the mortality rate of those at the bottom of the distribution of education compared with the rate of those at the top of the distribution of education. An increase in the relative index of inequality indicates an increase in disparities in mortality by educational level.29
Primary = elementary or primary school; secondary = high-school diploma; tertiary = postsecondary education after high school including college and university.