Socio-economic and demographic determinants of all-cause, main-cause and sub-cause mortality among 45+ adults: Evidence from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India

Background: Studies on cause-specific mortality among 45+ adults remain unknown in Indian settings. However, understanding the epidemiology of this public health problem can guide policy development for premature and old-age mortality prevention. Therefore, we intend to examine the socio-economic and demographic determinants of all-cause, main-cause and sub-cause mortality among 45+ adults in India.

Methods: We adopted the cross-sectional data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI-wave-I) conducted in 2017-18. We performed descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analysis.

Results: Females, young-old, middle-old, oldest-old showed lower odds of all-cause, main-cause and sub-cause mortality than males and middle-aged adults. Central region showed significantly greater odds of all-cause mortality risks than Northern region. Christians have lower odds of all-cause mortality risk than Hindus. With the increase in household income, the odds of NCD-related mortality risks also increase. Central (OR=1.54; p<0.01), Eastern (OR=1.28; p<0.01) and Western regions (OR=1.18; p<0.1) have greater odds of non-NCD-related mortality-risks than Northern regions. Urban residence (OR=01.34; p<0.05) has significantly higher odds of CVD-related mortality-risk than rural residence. OBC (OR=0.59; p<0.01) has lower odds of cancer-related mortality risks than general caste. North-eastern region (OR=2.00; p<0.01) has significantly greater odds of diabetes-related mortality risks.

Conclusions: The premature and old-age mortality components would help formulate and execute integrated interventions aimed at specific age groups and causes-specific mortality. Medical care, pollution management, environmental control, more involvement in physical activity and a healthy lifestyle could assist in lowering the CVD, cancer & diabetes-related mortality. A new strategy is needed to avoid future deaths and burdens from ageing-related CVD.

Keywords: Cause-specific mortality, NCDs-related mortality; CVD; cancer; diabetes; older adults.