Incidence of childhood fractures in affluent and deprived areas: population based study
BMJ 2000; 320 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.320.7228.149 (Published 15 January 2000) Cite this as: BMJ 2000;320:149
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Ronan A Lyons and colleagues (1) have highlighted the need for more
evidence on the sociodemographic profile of non-fatal injury. In 1995 I
conducted a review of routine health data in Dumfries and Galloway,
Scotland which identified deprived and affluent populations within the
region (residents of the 15% of census ennumeration districts with the
highest and lowest deprivation scores respectively)(2). The review
included an analysis of 27,894 hospital episodes in 1992. Deprived and
affluent groups were compared using standardised admission ratios (SARs) -
the SAR for the whole af dumfries and Galloway being 100. A higher rate
of admissions for home accidents (all ages) was found among residents of
deprived ennumeration districts. However, this did not reach statistical
significance - The SAR in the deprived group was 129 (95% confidence
intervals 86.2 - 105.9), that for the affluent group was 96 (95%
confidence intervals 86.2 - 105.9).
The use of ennumeration districts as the basis for subgrouping
populations rather than electoral wards as used by Lyons and colleagues
may be preferable in such studies as the former are more likely to contain
more homogeneous populations in regard to socioeconomic deprivation, thus
making the ecological fallacy less likely.
1 Lyons RA, Delahunty AM, Heaven M, McCabe M, Allen H,Nash P
BMJ 2000; 320: 149
2Waldron G.Health and Deprivation in Dumfries and Galloway - a
review of routine health data. Dumfries and Galloway Health Board 1995.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Correction to - Findings similar for home accident admissions
An error occurred in my previous letter. The 95% confidence
intervals for the deprived group should have read (105.6 - 152.9) and not
(86.2 - 105.9) which was the correct figure for the affluent group.
Apologies for any confusion.
Competing interests: No competing interests