This evidence review analyses data from the World Health Organisation’s Detailed Mortality Database, and summarises the literature to show that:

• the leading causes of death change across the lifecourse
• there are marked social inequalities in each of the leading causes of death (within top 5 broad causes), by total number of deaths, across the life course
• social and economic circumstances from birth accumulate and impact a person’s likelihood of an early death
• different mortality rates for the leading causes of death are evident across comparative European countries

Evidence is summarised for specific age groups across the life course.

This report was written for the Department of Health by Jill Roberts of the UCL Institute of Health Equity and is part of a suite for DH.

See:

• The impact of adverse experiences in the home on the health of children and young people, and inequalities in prevalence and effects
• Improving School Transitions For Health Equity