Spatial variations and social determinants of life expectancy in China, 2005–2020: A population-based spatial panel modelling study

BACKGROUND: Social determinants of health (SDOH) produce a broad range of life expectancy (LE) disparities. In China, limited literatures were found to report association between SDOH and LE at ecological level during a consecutive period of time from the spatial perspectives. This study aimed to determine the existence, quantify the magnitude, and interpret the association between SDOH and LE in China. METHODS: Provincial-level LE were estimated from mortality records during 2005–2020 from National Mortality Surveillance System in China. A spatial panel Durbin model was used to investigate LE associated SDOH proxies. Spatial spillover effects were introduced to interpret direct and indirect effects caused by SDOH during long-term and short-term period on LE disparities. FINDINGS: Nationwide, LE increased from 73.1 (95% confidence interval (CI): 71.3, 74.4) years to 77.7 (95%CI: 76.5, 78.7) years from 2005 to 2020. Unequally spatial distribution of LE with High-High clustering in coastal areas and Low-Low clustering in western regions were observed. Locally, it was estimated that SDOH proxies statistically significant related to an increase of LE, including GDP (coefficient: 0.02, 95%CI: 0.00, 0.03), Gini index (coefficient: 2.35, 95%CI: 1.82, 2.88), number of beds in health care institutions (coefficient: 0.02, 95%CI: 0.00, 0.05) and natural growth rate of resident population (coefficient: 0.02, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.02). Direct and indirect effects decomposition during long-term and short-term of LE associated SDOH proxies demonstrated that GDP, urbanization rate, unemployment rate, education attainment, Gini index, number of beds in health care institutions, sex ratio, gross dependence ratio and natural growth rate of resident population not only affected local LE, but also exerted spatial spillover effects towards geographical neighbors. INTERPRETATION: Spatial variations of LE existed at provincial-level in China. SDOH regarding socioeconomic development and equity, healthcare resources, as well as population characteristics not only affected LE disparities at local scale but also among nearby provinces. Externalities of policy of those SDOH proxies should be took into consideration to promote health equity nationally. Comprehensive approaches on the basis of population strategy should be consolidated to optimize supportive socioeconomic environment and narrow the regional gap to reduce health disparities and increase LE. FUNDING: National Key Research & Development Program of China (Grant No.2018YFC1315301); Ministry of Education of China Humanities and Social Science General Program (Grant No.18YJC790138).