Are health inequalities increasing in Japan? The trends of 1955 to 2000.

This study aimed to elucidate trends in socioeconomic inequalities in health during the past half century in Japan. Association of life expectancy and age-adjusted mortality with per capita income was examined using data on prefectures and municipalities in Japan of 1955 to 2000 via the slope index of inequality (SII) and Poisson regression. Although there were a few differences among health indicators and sex, health inequalities by prefecture,...