OBJECTIVES: We sought to describe the pattern and magnitude of urban-rural variation in @entity741 ( @entity741 ) in Scotland and to examine the associations among @entity741 health indicators, level of rurality, and degree of socioeconomic deprivation. METHODS: We used routine population and health data on the population aged 40-74 years between 1981 and 1999 and living in 826 small areas (average population=5600) in Scotland. Three @entity741 health indicators-mortality rates (deaths per 100,000 population), rates of continuous hospital stays (discharges per 100,000 population), and rates of mortality in the hospital or within 28 days of discharge ( @entity8176 +) were analyzed with multilevel Poisson models. A 4-level rurality classification was used: urban areas, remote small towns, accessible rural areas, and remote rural areas. RESULTS: Rates of mortality, continuous hospital stays, and @entity8176 + increased with area socioeconomic deprivation. After adjustment for population age, gender, and deprivation, the relative risk of @entity741 mortality in remote rural areas was similar to that of urban areas in 1981; the relative risk of a continuous hospital stay was significantly lower (relative risk [RR] = 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.64, 0.76) and the relative risk of @entity8176 + was higher (RR=1.18; 95% CI=1.04, 1.35) in remote rural areas. Mortality and @entity8176 + declined for all ruralities over time. However, @entity8176 + remains @entity14764 . CONCLUSIONS: Low standardized ratios of @entity741 continuous hospital stays and mortality in remote rural areas mask health problems among rural populations. Although absolute and relative differences between urban and rural rates of @entity8176 + have diminished, the relative risk of @entity8176 + remains high in remote rural areas.

Urban-rural inequalities in XXXX in Scotland, 1981-1999.

@entity14764 :: ('MESH:C536974', 'Disease') :: ['highest in remote rural areas and remote towns'] @entity8176 :: ('MESH:C535694', 'Disease') :: ['MH'] @entity741 :: ('MESH:D017202', 'Disease') :: ['ischemic heart disease', 'IHD']
@entity741 :: (MESH:D017202,Disease) :: ['ischemic heart disease']
