Regional inequalities in self-reported conditions and non-communicable diseases in European countries: Findings from the European Social Survey (2014) special module on the social determinants of health

Thomson, Katie H.; Renneberg, Ann-Christin; McNamara, Courtney L.; Akhter, Nasima; Reibling, Nadine; Bambra, Clare

doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckw227

Regional inequalities in self-reported conditions and non-communicable diseases in European countries: Findings from the European Social Survey (2014) special module on the social determinants of health Thumbnail

Authors

Katie H. Thomson

Ann-Christin Renneberg

Courtney L. McNamara

Dr Nasima Akhter nasima.akhter@durham.ac.uk
Assistant Professor

Nadine Reibling

Clare Bambra

Abstract

Background: Within the European Union (EU), substantial efforts are being made to achieve economic and social cohesion, and the reduction of health inequalities between EU regions is integral to this process. This paper is the first to examine how self-reported conditions and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) vary spatially between and within countries. Methods: Using 2014 European Social Survey (ESS) data from 20 countries, this paper examines how regional inequalities in self-reported conditions and NCDs vary for men and women in 174 regions (levels 1 and 2 Nomenclature of Statistical Territorial Units, ‘NUTS’). We document absolute and relative inequalities across Europe in the prevalence of eight conditions: general health, overweight/obesity, mental health, heart or circulation problems, high blood pressure, back, neck, muscular or joint pain, diabetes and cancer. Results: There is considerable inequality in self-reported conditions and NCDs between the regions of Europe, with rates highest in the regions of continental Europe, some Scandinavian regions and parts of the UK and lowest around regions bordering the Alps, in Ireland and France. However, for mental health and cancer, rates are highest in regions of Eastern European and lowest in some Nordic regions, Ireland and isolated regions in continental Europe. There are also widespread and consistent absolute and relative regional inequalities in all conditions within countries. These are largest in France, Germany and the UK, and smallest in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. There were higher inequalities amongst women. Conclusion: Using newly available harmonized morbidity data from across Europe, this paper shows that there are considerable regional inequalities within and between European countries in the distribution of self-reported conditions and NCDs.

Citation

Thomson, K. H., Renneberg, A., McNamara, C. L., Akhter, N., Reibling, N., & Bambra, C. (2017). Regional inequalities in self-reported conditions and non-communicable diseases in European countries: Findings from the European Social Survey (2014) special module on the social determinants of health. European Journal of Public Health, 27(Supplement 1), 14-21. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckw227

Journal Article Type	Article
Online Publication Date	Feb 23, 2017
Publication Date	Feb 23, 2017
Deposit Date	Oct 19, 2017
Publicly Available Date	Oct 25, 2017
Journal	European Journal of Public Health
Print ISSN	1101-1262
Electronic ISSN	1464-360X
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	27
Issue	Supplement 1
Pages	14-21
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckw227

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Copyright Statement
This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Thomson, Katie H., Renneberg, Ann-Christin, McNamara, Courtney L., Akhter, Nasima, Reibling, Nadine & Bambra, Clare (2017). Regional inequalities in self-reported conditions and non-communicable diseases in European countries: Findings from the European Social Survey (2014) special module on the social determinants of health. European Journal of Public Health 27(Supplement 1): 14-21 following peer review. The version of record [insert complete citation information here] is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckw227.