99. A fundamental problem with case control studies. BMJ Oct. 2, 2010 (responding to Sedgwick P. Confounding in case control studies. BMJ 2010; 341:c5136): http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c5136/reply#bmj_el_242476
98. Caution is warranted in tying policy decisions to perceptions about effects on health inequalities. BMJ Sept. 29, 2010 (responding to Tugwell P, Petticrew M, Kristjansson E., et al. Assessing equity in systematic reviews: realising the recommendations of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health. BMJ 2010; 341:c4739): http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c4739.full/reply#bmj_el_242311
97. In making a useful point, Sedgwick and Marston overlook a more common problem. BMJ Sept. 29, 2010 (responding to Sedgwick P, Marston L. Relative risk. BMJ 2010; 341:c3983): http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c3983.full/reply#bmj_el_242314
96. Comparisons of the size of health inequalities must be based on measures that are unaffected by the overall prevalence of an outcome. BMC Medical Research Methodology Sept. 22, 2010 (responding to Jackson AL, Davis CA, Leyland AH. Do differences in the administrative structure of populations confound comparisons of geographic health equalities? BMC Medical Research Methodology 2010: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2288/10/74): http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2288/10/74/comments
95. Problems in identifying interaction where groups have different base rates. BMJ Sept. 21, 2010 (responding to Altman DG, Bland JM. Interaction revisited: the difference between two estimates. BMJ 2003;326:219):
http://www.bmj.com/content/326/7382/219/reply#bmj_el_241943
94. Recognizing implications of different base rates in measuring improvements in healthcare. Health Aff (Millwood) Aug. 13, 2010 (responding to Guthrie B, Auerbck G, Bindman AB. Health plan competition for Medicaid enrollees based on performance does not improve quality of care. Health Aff (Millwood) 2010;29:1507-1515)
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/eletters/29/8/1507
93. Health and healthcare disparities cannot be usefully measured without consideration of overall prevalence. ________ Aug. 6, 2010 (responding to Hoover K, Bohm M, Keppel K. Measuring disparities in the incidence of sexually transmitted disease. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. December Supplement 2008, Vol. 35, No. 12:S40-S44): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Comment_on_Hoover.pdf
92. Resolving measurement issues should be the pressing health disparities research concern. Journal Review August 6, 2010 (responding to Flores G, Committee on Pediatric Research. Technical report – racial and ethnic disparities I the health and healthcare of children. Pediatrics 201; 1253979-1020): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Flores_Pediatrics_2010.pdf
91. To be of value health inequalities research must address measurement issues. BMJ July 23, 2010 (responding to Thomas B, Dorling D, Davey Smith G. Inequalities in premature mortality in Britain: observational study from 1921 to 2007. BMJ 2010;341:c3639): http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/341/jul22_1/c3639
90. Appraising mortality inequalities among different age groups. BMC Public Health July 19, 2010 (responding to Menvielle G, Leclerc A, Chastang, J-F, Luce D. Socioeconomic inequality in cause specific morality among older people in France. BMC Public Health 2010, 10:260): http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/260/comments#413678
89. Rethinking the premises of subgroup analyses. BMJ June 7, 2010 (responding to Sun X, Briel M. Walter SD, and Guyatt GH. Is as subgroup effect believable? Updating criteria to evaluated the credibility of subgroup analyses. BMJ 2010;340:850-854): http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/340/mar30_3/c117
88. Relative differences cannot effectively identify reporting heterogeneity. Journal Review May 21, 2010 (responding to Huisman M, van Lenthe F, Mackenbach JP. The predictive ability of self assessed health for mortality in different educational groups. Int J Epidemiol 2007;36:1207–1213):http://jpscanlan.com/images/Huisman_IJE_2007.pdf
87. Research into effects of interventions on inequalities must first address measurement issues. Journal Review Apr. 28, 2020 (responding to Bambra C, Gibson M, Sowden A, et al. Tackling the wider social determinants of health and health inequalities: evidence from systematic review. J Epidemiol Community Health 2010;64:284-291):
http://jpscanlan.com/images/Bambra_Gibson_JECH_2010.pdf
86. Interpreting racial differences in hypertension control. Journal Review Apr. 28, 2020 responding to Rehman SU, Hutchison FN, Hendrix K, et al. Ethnic differences in blood pressure control among men at Veterans Affairs clinic and other health care sites. Arch Intern Med 2005;165:1041-104): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Rehman_Arch_Int_Med_2005.pdf
85. Additional Issues to be considered by a World Council of Epidemiology and Causality. Emerging Themes in Epidemiology April 8, 2010 (responding to Bhopal R. Seven mistakes and potential solutions in epidemiology, including a call for a World Council of Epidemiology and Causality. Emerging Themes in Epidemiology 2009,6:6):
http://www.ete-online.com/content/6/1/6/comments#396680
84. Incentive programs to reduce healthcare disparities should await better understanding of how to measure those disparities. Journal Review March 2, 2010 (responding to Siegel B, Nolan L. Leveling the field – ensuring equity through National Health Care Reform. N Engl J Med 2009;361:2401-2403):
http://jpscanlan.com/images/Siegel_NEJM_2009.pdf
83. Interpreting data on comparative efficacy of an intervention in settings with different base rates. Journal Review Feb. 28, 2010 (responding to Madhi SA, Cunliffe NA, Steele D, et al. Effect of human rotavirus vaccine on severe diarrhea in African infants. N Engl J Med 2010;362:289-98: http://jpscanlan.com/images/Madhi_NEJM_2010.pdf
82. Importance of distinguishing disparities in survival from disparities in mortality. ______ Feb. 17, 2010 (responding to Keegan, THM, Clarke CA, Chang ET, et al. Disparities in survival after Hodgkin lymphoma: a population based study. Cancer Causes Control 2009;20:1881-1892: http://www.jpscanlan.com/images/Comment_on_Keegan.pdf
81. The importance of distinguishing mortality inequalities from survival inequalities. Journal Review Feb. 17, 2010 (responding to Hill S, Sarfati D, Blakely t, et al. Survival disparities in indigenous and non-indigenous New Zealanders with colon cancer: the role of patient comorbidity, treatment, and health service factors. J Epidemiol Community Health 2010;64:117-123):http://jpscanlan.com/images/Hill_JECH_2010.pdf
80. Health disparities cannot be measured without consideration of the overall prevalence of an outcome. Journal Review Feb.10, 2010 (responding to Orsi JM, Margellos-Anast H., Whitman S. Black-white health disparities in the United States and Chicago: A 15-Year Progress Analysis. Am J Public Health. 201;100:349-356:http://jpscanlan.com/images/Orsi_AJPH_2010.pdf
79. Understanding the forces driving cross-national variations in relative differences in outcome rates. Eur J Pub Health Jan. 25, 2009 (responding to Huijts T, Eikemo TA. Causality, social selectivity or artefacts? Why socioeconomic inequalities in health are not smallest in the Nordic countries. Eur J Pub Health 2009;19:452-53): http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/eletters/19/5/452
78. Authors recommending financial incentives to reduce disparities must confront measurement issues. Pediatrics Jan. 9, 2010 (Chin MH, Alexander-Young M, Burnet DJ. Health care quality-improvement approaches to reducing child health disparities. Pediatrics 2009;14:S224-S236): http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/eletters/124/Supplement_3/S224
77. The effect of changes in the overall prevalence of an outcome on relative differences in experiencing and avoiding it. BMJ Dec. 28, 2009 (responding to Gregory IN. Comparison between geographies of mortality and deprivation from the 100s and 2001: spatial analysis of census and mortality statistics. BMJ 2009;339:b3454):
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/339/sep10_2/b3454
76. Disparities quality index is flawed in several respects. Journal Review Dec. 19, 2009 (responding to Siegel B, Bear D, Andres E, Mead H. Measuring equity: An index of health care disparities. Q Manage Health Care 2009;18(2):84-90): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Siegel_QMHC_2009.pdf
75. Mastering tools to monitor health disparities should precede expansion of monitoring. Journal Review Dec. 5, 2009 (responding to Rosenthal MB, Landon Bruce E., Normand ST, et al. Engagement of health plans and employers in addressing racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare. Med Care Res Rev 2009;66(2):219-231): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Rosenthal_MCRR_2009.pdf
74. Article on disparities in control of cardiovascular disease and diabetes raises several measurement issues. Ann Int Med Nov. 30, 2009 (responding to McWilliams JM, Meara E., Zaslavsky AM, Ayanian JZ. Differences in control of cardiovascular disease and diabetes by race, ethnicity, and education, U.S. trends from 1999 to 2006 and effects of Medicare coverage. Ann Int Med 2009;150:505-515):
http://www.annals.org/content/150/8/505/reply#annintmed_el_120732
73. Measuring disparities in risk factors by means of absolute differences between rates. Journal Review Nov. 28, 2009 (responding to Kanjilat S, Gregg EW, Cheng YJ, et al. Socioeconomic status and trends in disparities in 4 major risk factors for cardiovascular disease among US adjust, 1971-2002. Arch Intern Med 2006;166:2348-2355): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Kanjilat_Arch_Int_Med_2006.pdf
72. The relationship between overall prevalence and measures of differences between outcome rates. International Journal for Equity in Health __________ (responding to Eikemo TA, Skalicka V, Avendano M. Variations in health inequalities: are they a mathematical artifact? International Journal for Equity in Health 2009;8:32: http://www.equityhealthj.com/content/pdf/1475-9276-8-32.pdf): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Comment_on_Eikemo_et_al..pdf
(This comment was submitted to the referenced journal on October 3, 2009. The journal originally planned to it after receiving replies from the authors of the articles it addresses, but subsequently indicated it would publish only a much shorter version, which I have not yet submitted. Meanwhile a version of the comment may be accessed by the indicated link.)
71. Effects of standard adjustment approaches on relative and absolute inequalities. J Epidemiol and Community Health Nov. 2, 2009 (responding to Lynch J, Davey Smith G, Harper S, Bainbridge K. Explaining the social gradient in coronary heart disease: comparing relative and absolute risk approaches. J Epidemiol Community Health 2006:60:436-441): http://jech.bmj.com/content/60/5/436.abstract/reply#jech_el_2400
(Item 71 comment is a follow-up to item 11. It also addresses issues raised in Singh-Manoux A, Nabi H, Shipley M, et al. The role of conventional risk factors in explaining social inequalities in coronary heart disease – the relative and absolute approaches. Epidemiology 2008;19:599-605.)
70. Measurement lessons learned, then forgotten. Journal Review May 6, 2009 (responding to Mackenbach JP, Stirbu I, Roskam AJ, et al. Socioeconomic inequalities in health in 22 European countries. N Engl J Med 2008;358:2468-2481: http://jpscanlan.com/images/Comment_on_Mackenbach.pdf
69. Study raises a number of issues about analyzing disparities between and among demographic groups. Journal Review March 23, 2009 (responding to Harper S, Lynch J, Meersman SC, et al. Trends in area-socioeconomic disparities in breast cancer screening, mortality, and survival among women ages 50 years and over (1987-2005). Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(1):121-131):
http://jpscanlan.com/images/Comment_on_Harper.pdf
68. Relative differences in survival and relative differences in mortality are different things. Journal Review Mar. 3, 2009 (Woldemichael G, Christiansen D, Thomas S, Benbow N. Demographic characteristics and survival with AIDS in Chicago, 1993-2001) Am J Public Health 2009;XXX-XXX.doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.124750: http://jpscanlan.com/images/Woldemichael_AJPH_2009.pdf
67. Recommendations to incorporate reductions in disparities in P4P programs cannot ignore measurement issues. Journal Review Feb. 21, 2009 (responding to Chien AT, Chin MH. Incorporating disparity reduction into pay-for-performance. J Gen Intern Med 2008;24(1):135-136): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Chien_JGIM_2008.pdf
66. Tying pay-for-performance to healthcare disparities should await mastery of measurement issues. BMJ Feb. 8, 2009 (responding to Bierman AS, Clark JP. Performance measure and equity. BMJ 2007;334:1333-1334): http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/334/7608/1333
65. Measuring racial disparities in hypertension control. Ann Fam Med Jan. 25, 2009 (responding to Satcher D. Examining racial and ethnic disparities in health and hypertension control. Ann Fam Med 2008;6:483-485): http://www.annfammed.org/cgi/eletters/6/6/483
64. Interpreting patterns of changes in absolute differences between rates when common outcomes become even more common. BMJ Dec. 7, 2008 (responding to Ashworth M, Medina J, Morgan M. Effect of social deprivation on blood pressure monitoring and control in England: a survey of data from the quality and outcomes framework. BMJ 2008;337:a2030): http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/337/oct28_2/a203063
63. “Inverse equity hypothesis” overlooks important statistical tendencies. Journal Review Dec. 2, 2008 (responding to Victora CG, Vaughan JP, Barros FC, et al. Explaining trends in inequities: evidence from Brazilian child health studies. Lancet 2000;356:1093-1098): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Comment_on_Victora.pdf
62. Interpreting patterns of changes in measures of demographic differences in folate status in light of overall improvements in folate status. Journal Review Dec. 2, 2008 (responding to Dowd JB, Aiello AE. Did national folic acid fortification reduce socioeconomic and racial disparities in folate status in the US. Int J Epidemiol 2008:37:1059-1066): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Comment_on_Dowd_and_Aiello.pdf
61. Measures of health and healthcare disparities that are unaffected by the overall prevalence of an outcome (responding to Low A, Low A. Importance of relative measures in policy on health inequalities. BMJ. 2006;332:967-969. BMJ Nov. 29, 2008): http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/332/7547/967
60. Illustrating whether the relationship between race and allostatic load scores increases with age. Journal Review July 24, 2008 (responding to Geronimus A, Hicken M, Keene D, and Bound J. Weathering and age patterns of allostatic load scores among blacks and whites in the United States. Am J Pub Health 2006;96:826-833): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Geronimus_AJPH_2005.pdf
59. Relative differences in outcome rates tend to be large where outcomes are rare. Journal Review May 31, 2008 (responding to Kawachi I, Daniels N, Robinson DE. Health disparities by race and class: why both matter. Health Affairs 2005;24(2):343-352): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Kawachi_Health_Affairs_2005.pdf
58. Identifying meaningful differences in inequalities in revascularization rates in different settings. Journal Review May 9, 2008 (responding to Hetemaa T, Keskimäki I, Manderbacka, et al. How did the recent increase in the supply or coronary operations in Finland affect socioeconomic and gender equity in their use? J Epidemiol Community Health 2003;57:178-185):http://jpscanlan.com/images/Second_Hetemaa_Comment.pdf
57. Health disparities curricula must address measurement issues. Ann Intern Med May 12, 2008 (responding to Smith WR, Betancourt JR, Wynia MK. Recommendations for teaching about racial and ethnic differences in health and health care. Ann Intern Med 2007;147:654-665): http://www.annals.org/cgi/eletters/147/9/654
56. Study shows different adjustment approaches rather than different relative and absolute perspectives. Journal Review May 1, 2008 (responding to Khang YH, Lynch JW, Jung-Choi K, Cho HJ. Explaining age-specific inequalities in mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease and ischaemic heart disease among South Korean public servants: relative and absolute perspectives. Heart 2008;94:75-82):http://jpscanlan.com/images/Khang_Heart_2009.pdf
55. Understanding patterns of absolute differences in vaccination rates in different settings. Journal Review Apr. 22, 2008 (responding to Schneider EC, Cleary PD, Zaslavsky AM, Epstein AM. Racial disparity in influenza vaccination: Does managed care narrow the gap between blacks and whites? JAMA 2001;286:1455-1460):
http://jpscanlan.com/images/Schneider_JAMA_2001.pdf
54. Misinterpreting patterns of relative differences in mortality. Am J Public Health Apr. 13, 2008 (responding to Wilkinson RG, Pickett KE. Income inequality and socioeconomic gradients in mortality. Am J Public Health 2008;98:699-704): http://www.ajph.org/cgi/eletters/98/4/699
53. Comparisons of the sizes of differences between black and white rates for different procedures are not informative without consideration of the overall levels for each procedure. Journal Review Mar. 28, 2008 (responding to Baicker K, Chandra A, Skinner JS, Wennberg JE. Who you are and where you live: how race and geography affect the treatment of Medicare beneficiaries. Health Affairs 2004:Var-33-Var-44):
http://jpscanlan.com/images/Baicker_Health_Affairs_2004.pdf
52. Study illustrates ways in which the direction of a change in disparity turns on the measure chosen. Pediatrics Mar. 27, 2008 (responding to Morita JY, Ramirez E, Trick WE. Effect of school-entry vaccination requirements on racial and ethnic disparities in Hepatitis B immunization coverage among public high school students. Pediatrics 2008;121:e547-e552): http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/eletters/121/3/e547
51. First learn to measure healthcare disparities. Health Affairs Mar. 12, 2008 (responding to Casalino LP, Elster A, Eisenberg A, et al. Will pay-for-performance and quality reporting affect health care disparities? Health Affairs 2007;26(3):405-414): http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/eletters/26/3/w405
50. Reconsidering a landmark study. Lancet Feb. 25, 2008 (responding to Mackenbach JP, Kunst AE, Cavelaars, et al. Socioeconomic inequalities in morbidity and mortality in western Europe, Lancet 1997; 349: 1655-59):
http://jpscanlan.com/images/Mackenbach_Lancet_1997.pdf
49. Inclusion of healthcare disparities issues in pay-for-performance programs should await development of reliable means of measuring changes in disparities over time. Journal Review Feb. 16, 2008 (responding to Casalino LP, Elster A, Eisenberg A, et al. Will pay-for-performance and quality reporting affect health care disparities? Health Affairs 2007;26(3):405-414): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Casalino_Health_Affairs_2007.pdf
48. Perceptions of changes in healthcare disparities among the elderly dependant on choice of measure, Journal Review 2/12/08 (responding to Escarce JJ, McGuire TG. Changes in racial differences in use of medical procedures and diagnostic tests among elderly persons: 1986-1997. Am J Public Health 2004;94:795-1799):http://jpscanlan.com/images/Escarce_McGuire_2004.pdf
47. Pay-for-performance and the measurement of healthcare disparities. Journal Review Feb. 10, 2008 (responding to Chien AT, Chin MH, Davis AM, Casalino LP. Pay for performance, public reporting, and racial disparities in health care: how are programs being designed. Med Car Res Rev 2007;64:283S-304S): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Chien_MCRR_2007.pdf
46a. Implications of the focus on racial/ethnic disparities in control rather than processes in the context of pay-for-performance . Journal Review Feb. 10, 2008 (responding to Werner, RM, Asch DA, Polsky D. Racial profiling: The unintended consequences of coronary artery bypass graft report cards. Circulation 2005;111:1257–63):
http://jpscanlan.com/images/Werner_Follow.pdf
46. Pay-for-performance implications of the failure to recognize the way changes in prevalence of an outcome affect measures of racial disparities in experiencing the outcome. Journal Review Feb. 8, 2008 (responding to Werner, RM, Asch DA, Polsky D. Racial profiling: The unintended consequences of coronary artery bypass graft report cards. Circulation 2005;111:1257–63): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Werner_Circulation_2005.pdf
45. Comparing health inequalities across time and place with an understanding of the usual correlations between various measures of difference and overall prevalences. Journal Review Jan. 30, 2008 (responding to Moser K, Frost C, Leon D. Comparing health inequalities across time and place—rate ratios and rate differences lead to different conclusions: analysis of cross-sectional data from 22 countries 1991–200. Int J Epidemiol 2007;36:1285-1291: http://jpscanlan.com/images/Moser_IJE_2007.pdf
44. Increases in relative differences in adverse health outcomes do not necessarily reflect increasing health inequality. Am J Public Health Jan. 24, 2008 (responding to Frohlich KL, Potvin L. Transcending the Known in Public Health Practice: The inequality paradox: The population approach and vulnerable populations. Am J Pub Health 2008;98:216-221): http://www.ajph.org/cgi/eletters/98/2/216
D43. Comparing the size of inequalities in dichotomous measures in light of the standard correlations between such measures and the prevalence of an outcome. Journal Review Jan. 14, 2008 (responding to Boström G, Rosén M. Measuring social inequalities in health – politics or science? Scan J Public Health 2003;31:211-215):
http://www.jpscanlan.com/images/Bostrom_and_Rosen_Comment.pdf
42. Recognizing the way correlations between improvements in healthcare and reductions in healthcare disparities tend to turn on the choice of disparities measure. Journal Review Nov. 9, 2007 (responding to Aaron KF, Clancy CM. Improving quality and reducing disparities. JAMA 2003;289:1033-34):
http://jpscanlan.com/images/Aaron_Clancy_JAMA_2003.pdf
41a. Correction to statements concerning the measurement of healthcare disparities by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in earlier comment on Trivedi et al. Journal Review Nov. 15, 2007:
http://jpscanlan.com/images/Trivedi_JAMA_2006_Correction.pdf
(Correcting item 41.)
41. Understanding patterns of correlations between plan quality and different measures of healthcare disparities. Journal Review Aug. 30, 2007 (responding to Trivedi AN, Zaslavsky AM, Schneider EC, Ayanian JZ. Relationship between quality of care and racial disparities in Medicare health plans. JAMA 2006;296:1998-2004):
http://jpscanlan.com/images/Trivedi_JAMA_2006.pdf
40a. Correction to statements concerning the measurement of healthcare disparities by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in earlier comment on Sequist et al. Journal Review Nov. 15, 2007: http://jpscanlan.com/images/Sequist_Correction.pdf
D40. Understanding the ways improvements in quality affect different measures of disparities in healthcare outcomes regardless of meaningful changes in the relationships between two groups’ distributions of factors associated with the outcome. Journal Review Aug. 30, 2007 (responding to Sequist TD, Adams AS, Zhang F, Ross-Degnan D, Ayanian JZ. The effect of quality improvement on racial disparities in diabetes care. Arch Intern Med 2006;166:675-681): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Sequist_Archives_Int_Med_2006.pdf
39. Understanding widening socioeconomic differences in child mortality. Journal Review Aug. 27, 2007 (responding to Singh GK, Kogan MD. Widening socioeconomic disparities in US childhood mortality, 1969-2000. Am J Public Health 2007:97:1658-1665): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Singh_AJPH_2007.pdf
38. Interpreting patterns of differing effects of chronic conditions on self-assessed health. Journal Review June 30, 2007 (responding to Brown AF, Ang A, Pebley AR. The relationship between neighborhood characteristics and self-rated health for adults with chronic conditions. Am J Public Health 2007;97:926-932): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Brown_AJPH_2007.pdf
37. Recognizing expected patterns of relative differences in the Whitehall cohort. Journal Review June 25, 2007 (responding to van Rossum CTM, Shipley MJ, van de Mheen H, et al. Employment grade differences in cause specific mortality. A 25-year follow up of civil servants from the first Whitehall study. J Epidemiol Community Health 2000;54:178-84): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Van_Rossum_JECH_2000.pdf
36. Understanding the way choice of measure tends to dictate the results of studies of the way improvements in healthcare affect disparities. Journal Review June 19, 2007 (responding to James PD, Wilkins R, Detsky AS, et al. Avoidable mortality by neighborhood income in Canada: 25 years after the establishment of universal health insurance. J Epidemiol Community Health 2007;61:287-296): http://jpscanlan.com/images/James_JECH_2007.pdf
35. Problems with the measurement of changes in health inequalities over time using dichotomous variables and possibilities using continuous variables. Journal Review June 19, 2007 (responding to Ferrie JE, Shipley MJ, Davey Smith GD. Change in health inequalities among British civil servants: the Whitehall II study. J Epidemiol Community Health 2002:56:922-926): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Ferrie_JECH_2002.pdf
34. Recognizing why dichotomous and continuous measures may yield contrary results. BMJ June 11, 2007 (responding to Chandola T, Ferrie J, Sacker A, Marmot M. Social inequalities in self reported health in early old age: follow-up of prospective cohort study. BMJ 2007:334:990-996): http://www.BMJ.com/cgi/eletters/334/7601/990
33. Recognizing the statistical basis for advances in health care to cause larger relative reductions in mortality in groups with lower base rates. Journal Review June 9, 2007 (responding to Korda RJ, Butler JRG, Clements MS, Kunitz SJ. Differential impacts of health care in Australia: trend analysis of socioeconomic inequalities in avoidable mortality. Int J Epidemiol 2007;36:157-165): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Korda_IJE_2007.pdf
32. Understanding the ways factors tend to increase outcome rates proportionately more in groups with lower base rates. Journal Review June 7, 2007 (responding to Thurston RC, Kubzansky LD, Kawachi I, Berkman LF. Is the association between socioeconomic position and coronary heart disease stronger in women than in men. Am J Epidemiol 2005;162:57-64): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Thurston_AJE_2005.pdf
31. Role of the prevalence of an outcome in the size of rate differences. J Epidemiol Community Health June 4, 2007 (responding to Martikainen P, Blomgren J, Valkonen T. Change in the total and independent effects of education and occupational social class on mortality: analyses of all Finnish men and women the period 1971-2000. J Epidemiol Community Health 2007;61:499-505): http://jech.bmj.com/content/61/6/499.abstract/reply#jech_el_1338
30. Interpreting departures from expected patterns of relative differences. J Epidemiol Community Health June 4, 2007 (responding to Mustard CA, Etches J. Gender differences in socioeconomic inequality in mortality. J Epidemiol Community Health 2003;57:974-980): http://jech.bmj.com/content/57/12/974.abstract/reply#jech_el_1340
29. A study with a variety of problems. Journal Review June 2, 2007 (responding to Schulman KA, Berlin JA, Harless, et al. The effect of race and sex on physicians’ recommendations for cardiac catheterization. N Engl J Med 1999;340:618-26):
http://jpscanlan.com/images/Schulman_NEJM_1999.pdf
28. Understanding why the accomplishments of the welfare state generally will not reduce health inequalities as they are typically measured. Journal Review June 2, 2007 (responding to Lawlor DA, Ronalds G, Macintyre S, et al. Family socioeconomic position at birth and future cardiovascular disease risk: findings from the Aberdeen children of the 1950s cohort study. Am J Public Health 2006;96:1271-1277): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Lawlor_AJPH_2006.pdf
27. Understanding when general increases in an outcome tend to result in increasing absolute differences between the rates of two groups. Journal Review June 1, 2007 (responding to Trivedi AN, Zaslavsky AM, Schneider EC, Ayanian JZ. Trends in the quality of care and racial disparities in Medicare managed care. N Engl J Med 2005;353:692-700)(included in item 23):
http://jpscanlan.com/images/Vaccarino_NEJM_2005.pdf
26. Understanding when general increases in an outcome tend to result in increasing absolute differences between the rates of two groups. Journal Review June 1, 2007 (responding to Jha AK, Fisher ES, Li Z, Orav EJ, Epstein AM. Racial trends in the use of major procedures among the elderly. N Engl J Med 2005;353:683-691) (included in item 23): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Vaccarino_NEJM_2005.pdf
25. Understanding expected patterns of changes in absolute differences between the rates at which racial or gender groups receive adequate care. Journal Review May 1, 2007 )Sehgal AR. Impact of quality improvement efforts on race and sex disparities in hemodialysis. JAMA 2003;289:996-1000): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Sehgal_JAMA_2003.pdf
24. Recognizing the role of the prevalence of an outcome in comparing the size of relative differences in experiencing or failing to experience the outcome. Journal Review May 31, 2007 (responding to Gan SC, Beaver SK, Houck PM, et al. Treatment of acute myocardial infarction and 30-day mortality among women and men. N Engl J Med 2000;343:8-15): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Gan_NEJM_2000.pdf
23a. Correction to statements concerning the measurement of healthcare disparities in the National Healthcare Disparities Reports in earlier comment on Vaccarino et al. Journal Review Nov. 6, 2007: http://jpscanlan.com/images/Vaccarino_Correction.pdf
Correcting no. 23.
23. Effects of choice measure on determination of whether health care disparities are increasing or decreasing. Journal Review May 1, 2007 (responding to Vaccarino V, Rathore SS, Wenger NK, et al. Sex and racial differences in the management of acute myocardial infarction, 1994 through 2002. N Engl J Med 2005;353:671-682):
http://jpscanlan.com/images/Vaccarino_NEJM_2005.pdf
22. Understanding why reductions in injury rates will tend to increase relative differences in injury rates. Lancet Jan. 31, 2007 (responding to Sethi D, Racioppi F, Baumgarten I, Bertollini R. Reducing inequalities from injuries in Europe. Lancet 2006:368:2243-50): http://jpscanlan.com/images/Sethi_Lancet_2006.pdf
21. Interpreting changes in relative inequalities in receipt of procedures. J Epidemiol Community Health Jan 25, 2007 (responding to Hetemaa T, Keskimäki I, Manderbacka, et al. How did the recent increase in the supply or coronary operations in Finland affect socioeconomic and gender equity in their use? J Epidemiol Community Health 2003;57:178-185): http://jech.bmj.com/content/57/3/178.abstract/reply#jech_el_1305
20. Interpreting patterns of inequalities in perinatal outcomes. J Epidemiol Community Health Jan 18, 2007 (responding to Fairley L, Leyland AH. Social class inequalities in perinatal outcomes: Scotland 1980-2000. J Epidemiol Community Health 2006;601:31- 36: http://jech.bmj.com/content/60/1/31.full/reply#jech_el_1282
19. The relationship between the prevalence of an outcome and the size of the relative disparity in experiencing it. BMJ Dec 14, 2006 (responding to Kristensen P. Review of Social Inequalities in Health: New Evidence and Policy Implications. BMJ 2006;333:1167): http://www.BMJ.com/cgi/eletters/333/7579/117
18. Issue in the interpretation of health inequalities in New York. J Epidemiol Community Health Dec. 14, 2006 (responding to Karpati AM, Bassett MT, McCord C. Neighborhood mortality inequalities in New York City, 1989-1991 and 1999-2001. J Epidemiol Community Health 2006;60:1060-1064): http://jech.bmj.com/content/60/12/1060.abstract/reply#jech_el_1277
17. Why we should expect Nordic countries to show large relative socioeconomic inequalities in mortality. Lancet Oct. 7, 2006 (responding to Wilkinson R. The politics of health. Lancet 2006;368:1229-1230) :http://jpscanlan.com/images/Wilkinson_Lancet_2006_Nordic_.pdf
16. Explanation for large health inequalities in Nordic countries. Eur J Public Health Nov. 1, 2006 (responding to Hemmingsson T, Lundberg I. Can large relative mortality differences between socioeconomic groups among Swedish men be explained by risk indicator-associated social mobility? Eur J Public Health 200515:518 -522): http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/eletters/15/5/518#22
15. Difficulties in comparing relative differences across subgroups. J Epidemiol Community Health Dec. 4, 2006 (responding to Kaplan RM, Kronick RG. Marital status and longevity in the United States Population. J Epidemiol Community Health 2006;60:760-765): http://jech.bmj.com/content/60/9/760.abstract/reply#jech_el_853
14. Differences in average hospital stay as a measure of inequality. Am J Public Health Aug. 18, 2006 (responding to Icks A, Haastert B, Rathmann W, et al. Trends in hospitalization and sociodemographic factors in diabetic and nondiabetic populations in Germany: National Health Survey, 1990-1992 and 1998. Am J Public Health 2006;96:1656-1661): http://www.ajph.org/cgi/eletters/AJPH.2005.063339v1
13. Understanding inequalities in injury deaths BMJ July 19, 2006 (responding to Edwards P, Green J, Roberts I, Lutchmun S. Deaths from injury in children and employment status in family: analysis of trends in class specific death rates. BMJ 2006;333:119-121):
http://www.bmj.com/content/333/7559/119?tab=responses
12. Understanding how changes in prevalence of adverse health outcomes affect health inequalities. Lancet May 23, 2006 (responding to Wilkinson R, Pickett K. Health inequalities and the UK Presidency of the EU. Lancet 2006;376:1126-1128:
http://jpscanlan.com/images/Wilkinson_Lancet_2006.pdf
11. Understanding social gradients in adverse health outcomes within high and low risk populations. J Epidemiol Community Health May 18, 2006 (responding to Lynch J, Davey Smith G, Harper S, Bainbridge K. Explaining the social gradient in coronary heart disease: comparing relative and absolute risk approaches. J Epidemiol Community Health 2006:60:436-441): http://jech.bmj.com/content/60/5/436.abstract/reply#jech_el_549
10. Changing inequalities in morbidity. J Epidemiol Community Health May 16, 2006 (responding to Adams J, Holland L, White M. Changes in socioeconomic inequalities in census measures of health in England and Wales, 1991-2001. J Epidemiol Community Health 2006;60:218-222): http://jech.BMJjournals.com/cgi/eletters/60/3/218
9. Re: Relative measures have limitations too. BMJ May 16, 2006: http://BMJ.BMJjournals.com/cgi/eletters/332/7547/967
Responding to authors’ reply to item 8.
8. Problems with relative measures of health inequalities. BMJ May 8, 2006 (responding to Low A, Low A. Importance of relative measures in policy on health inequalities. BMJ. 2006;332:967-969): http://BMJ.BMJjournals.com/cgi/eletters/332/7547/967
7. Interpreting increasing health inequalities in Spain. Am J Public Health Apr. 24, 2006 (responding to Regidor E, Ronda E, Pascual C, Martinez D, Calle ME, Dominguez V. Decreasing socioeconomic inequalities and increasing health inequalities in Spain: A case study. Am J Public Health 2006;96:102-108): http://www.ajph.org/cgi/eletters/96/1/102
6. Measuring health disparities. J Public Health Manag Pract 2006;12(3):293-296 (responding to Keppel KG, Pearcy JN. Measuring relative disparities in terms of adverse events. J Public Health Manag Pract 2005;11(6):479–483):
http://www.nursingcenter.com/library/JournalArticle.asp?Article_ID=641470
5. Difficulties in the interpretation of patterns of health racial differences in allostatic load. Am J Public Health Feb. 26, 2006 (responding to Geronimus A, Hicken M, Keene D, and Bound J. Weathering and Age Patterns of Allostatic Load Scores Among Blacks and Whites in the United States. Am J Public Health 2006;96:826-833): http://www.ajph.org/cgi/eletters/96/5/826
4. Interpreting trends in racial disparities in stillbirth. Am J Public Health Feb. 26, 2006 (responding to Ananth CV, Shiliang L, Kinzler WL, Kramer MS. Stillbirths in the United States, 1981-2000: An Age, Period and Cohort Analysis. Am J Public Health 2005;95:2213-2217): http://www.ajph.org/cgi/eletters/95/12/2213
3. Changing social inequalities in SIDS. Am J Public Health Dec. 11, 2005 (responding to Pickett KE, Luo Y, Lauderdale DB. Widening social inequalities in risk for sudden infant death syndrome. Am J Public Health 2005;95:97-81): http://www.ajph.org/cgi/eletters/95/11/1976
2. Interpreting changes in mortality differences. J Epidemiol Community Health Sep. 8, 2005 (responding to Shaw C, Blakely T, Atkinson J, Crampton P. Do social and economic reforms change socioeconomic inequalities in child mortality? A case study: New Zealand, 1981-1999. J Epidemiol Community Health 2005;59:638-644): http://jech.BMJ.com/cgi/eletters/59/8/638
1. Appraising the size of racial differences in mortality. Health Affairs Aug. 23, 2005 (responding to Satcher D, Fryer GE, McCann J, et al. What if we were equal? A comparison of the black-white mortality gap in 1960 and 2000. Health Affairs 2005;24(2):459-564): http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/eletters/24/2/459