Segment Tool: statistical commentary, November 2022
Published 1 November 2022
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2022
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/segment-tool-november-2022-data-update/segment-tool-statistical-commentary-november-2022
Main findings
This release of the Segment Tool provides new trend data for the periods 2014 to 2016 and 2017 to 2019, in addition to the 2020 to 2021 data already available in the tool. For the first time, the tool provides information to show changes in the drivers of inequality in life expectancy over time.
The main findings are:
- in England, the gap in male life expectancy between those living in the most and least deprived fifth of areas was 7.7 years in 2014 to 2016 and 7.8 years in 2017 to 2019, but in 2020 to 2021 the gap increased to 8.6 years
- for females in England, the life expectancy gap between the most and least deprived fifth of areas was 6.1 years in 2014 to 2016 and 6.3 years in 2017 to 2019, but it then increased to 7.1 years in 2020 to 2021
- for both males and females, the percentage contribution of each cause of death to these gaps in life expectancy was very similar in both 2014 to 2016 and 2017 to 2019, with higher mortality rates from circulatory disease and cancer in the most deprived fifth of areas making the largest contributions (26% and 21% respectively)
- in 2020 to 2021, although these 2 causes of death still made the largest contribution to the gap for both sexes, in these pandemic years, 15% of the gap was due to higher mortality rates from COVID-19 in the most deprived fifth of areas. The percentage contribution of other causes of death, including circulatory disease and cancer, was consequently lower than in previous years
- however, the absolute contribution to the gap (in years) from causes other than COVID-19 did not fall in 2020 to 2021. The contribution in years of each cause to the gap in life expectancy was very similar in 2020 to 2021 to previous years. This indicates that COVID-19 led to a widening of existing inequalities in 2020 to 2021, while inequality due to other causes remained largely the same
- the tool also provides data at regional level. A similar picture is seen across the regions, with increases in the gap in 2020 to 2021 due for the most part to higher mortality from COVID-19 in the most deprived fifth of areas.
- the contribution of different age groups to inequalities in life expectancy is also shown in the Segment Tool. Unlike causes of death, the percentage contribution of the age groups to the inequality gap within England did not differ very much between time periods, including the pandemic years, for both sexes
- data is also available at upper and lower tier local authority area level (for the earlier 2 time periods only at lower tier level) which show changes over time for some causes of death. Data tables within the tool present actual numbers of deaths within the most deprived fifth of areas, and the number of deaths which would be avoided in the most deprived fifth of areas if it had the same mortality rate as the least deprived. These can aid interpretation of the results for local authorities as small changes in numbers of deaths can sometimes lead to a large change in the contribution to life expectancy gaps, particularly when the gap is small
Background
The Segment Tool provides information on the causes of death and age groups that are driving inequalities in life expectancy at local area level. Targeting the causes of death and age groups which contribute most to the life expectancy gap should have the biggest impact on reducing inequalities.
The Segment Tool was first published in January 2014, and last updated in May 2022. The following changes have been made to the Segment Tool since the previous update:
- data for 2014 to 2016, and 2017 to 2019 has been added to the tool, in addition to the 2020 to 2021 data which was already available
- the user interface of the tool has been redesigned to allow trends to be viewed
Data for lower tier local authorities has been included for 2014 to 2016 and 2017 to 2019, but have not been included for 2020 to 2021 as the breakdowns based on 2 years of data are not robust due to small numbers.
View the Segment Tool.
Responsible statistician, product lead: Charlotte Fellows.
For queries relating to this document, please contact: pha-ohid@dhsc.gov.uk.