[Inequalities in health expectancies in England and Wales--small area analysis from the 2001 Ccensus.

This study investigates inequalities in the expectation of life without disability and life in good health using 2001 Census data at small area (ward) level for England and Wales. Inequalities were examined both nationally and within regions by computing life expectancies and health expectancies in groups of wards (twentieths) aggregated according to the Carstairs deprivation score. The results showed that the inequality gaps were significantly larger for health expectancies compared with life expectancy; they were wider for disability-free life expectancy than healthy life expectancy; and, for all measures, were wider for males. Within regions, the gradient in health inequalities with increasing deprivation varied. Those living in the least deprived wards had similar levels of health expectations across all regions. There was more geographical variation in the most deprived areas with lowest health expectations in the northern regions.