Zeitschriftenartikel

Changes in inequalities of mortality and life expectancy by marital status: a case of Lithuania

Meščeriakova-Veliulienė, O., Kalėdienė, R., Sauliūnė, S., Kaselienė, S., Ronto, R., Jasilionis, D.

BMC Public Health , 25:3092, 1–10 (2025)

DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-24255-1

Open Access

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, health inequalities have emerged as a big issue of public health. Lithuania, along with other European Union countries, pays great attention to the reduction of health inequalities. However, studies on inequalities in mortality and life expectancy (LE) by marital status over the long term have not been investigated in Lithuania. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in the inequalities of mortality from major causes and LE by marital status in Lithuania during 2001–2014.
Methods: The study included Lithuanian residents aged over 30 who died from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, external causes, and gastrointestinal diseases during 2001–2014. Age-standardized mortality rates were calculated by marital status per 100,000 person-years. LE was calculated using life tables. Inequalities in mortality and LE by marital status were assessed using rate differences and rate ratios.
Results: The highest mortality rates among married and unmarried Lithuanian population were from CVDs in 2001 and 2014. In the married population, mortality from CVDs, cancer, and external causes decreased, while in the unmarried population, mortality decreased from external causes and from CVDs (only among women) during 2001–2014 (P < 0.01). The rate ratios of mortality from CVDs and cancer increased throughout the study period, as well as from external causes among men and from gastrointestinal diseases among women (P < 0.05). During 2001–2014, LE was significantly higher in the married population than in the unmarried population (P < 0.05). Differences in LE between married and unmarried population increased, but the increase was faster among women (by 4.49% per year, P < 0.001) than among men (by 1.87% per year, P = 0.005).
Conclusion: Inequalities in age-standardized mortality rates (except for gastrointestinal diseases for men and for external causes for women) from major causes of death and in LE by marital status were increasing in Lithuania during 2001–2014. This knowledge provides a better understanding of the impact of sociodemographic factors on mortality and inequality trends in Lithuania, and can also contribute to the development of more effective health policies and strategies.