Years of life lost due to diseases of the digestive system in Poland according to socioeconomic factors: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: To analyse years of life lost (YLLs) due to digestive diseases in Poland according to: marital status, education, working status and place of residence. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: The study was based on a dataset containing information from death certificates of Poles who died in 2002 and in 2011. PARTICIPANTS: The analysis covered records with codes K00–K93 according to the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision. OUTCOME MEASURES: YLL values were calculated using the Standard Expected Years of Life Lost measure. For each socioeconomic variable, the rate ratio (RR) was calculated as the quotient of YLLs in the less privileged group to the more privileged group. RESULTS: Among the categories of marital status, the smallest YLL values (per 10 000) were recorded among singles (men: 100.63 years in 2002, 121.10 years in 2011; women: 26.99, 33.33, respectively), and the most among divorced men (657.87, 689.32) and widowed women (173.97, 169.46). YLL analysis according to education level revealed the lowest values in people with higher education (men: 54.20, 57.66; women: 17.31, 18.31) and the highest in people with lower than secondary education (men: 178.85, 198.32; women: 104.95, 125.76). Being economically active was associated with a smaller YLL score (men: 39.93, 59.51; women: 10.31, 14.96) than being inactive (men: 340.54, 219.93; women: 126.86, 96.80). Urban residents had higher YLL score (men: 159.46, 174.18, women: 73.03, 78.12) than rural ones (men: 126.83, 137.11, women: 57.32, 57.56). In both sexes, RR according to education level and place of residence increased, and those according to marital status and working status decreased with time. CONCLUSIONS: Activities aimed at reducing health inequalities in terms of YLL due to digestive diseases should be primarily addressed to inhabitants with lower than secondary education, divorced and widowed people, urban residents and those who are economically inactive.