Socioeconomic and cardiovascular variables explaining regional variations in stroke mortality in Chile: An ecological study

Abstract

Background: Regional differences in stroke mortality rates have been described in Chile. These could be related to the distribution of cardiovascular risk factors, the quality of medical care or socioeconomic status influencing incidence or case fatality rates. Our objective was to investigate variables explaining the variability in stroke mortality rates in the different regions of Chile. Methods: Adjusted stroke mortality rates in different regions were calculated for the year 2003. Variables were added from three sources: the National Death Certificate Database, the National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey and the National Health Survey. A logistic regression model was used to investigate regions, demographic variables and socioeconomic variables associated with the risk of death from stroke. A linear regression model was used to study the association of socioeconomic variables and cardiovascular risk factors with the standardized mortality rate by region and the contribution