Social Determinants of Mortality

The decomposition does not directly estimate causal effects of social determinants, healthcare institutions, macroeconomic conditions, or causes of death. In 1994, 18.6% of non-elderly adults in the United States lacked health insurance. Mortality is associated with education, income, social support, healthcare provision, lifestyle, disease, and living conditions. The Canada-US divergence in the 1980s may reflect macroeconomic and institutional differences affecting working-age health and healthcare access. Lack of insurance limited care, especially preventive care at young ages, and was associated with higher mortality in cited studies.