Geographic and Demographic Disparities in Bacterial Pneumonia Mortality: A Comparative Analysis of U.S.-Mexico Border and Non-Border Regions
Keywords:
bacterial pneumonia, health disparities, mortality, border regionAbstract
Background: Bacterial pneumonia remains a significant public health concern in the U.S., particularly in regions with limited access to healthcare. Previous studies have highlighted disparities in infectious disease outcomes, but few have examined mortality trends specific to U.S.-Mexico border regions. The objective of this study is to compare bacterial pneumonia mortality rates between U.S.-Mexico border and non-border counties from 2000 to 2020 and assess demographic disparities.
Methods: This study utilized data from the CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death database. Bacterial pneumonia deaths were identified using ICD-10 codes J13–J15. Crude mortality rates and age-adjusted standardized mortality rates (ASMR) were calculated and stratified by gender, race, and ethnicity. Risk ratios were computed to compare mortality differences between groups.
Results: The ASMR for bacterial pneumonia in the U.S.-Mexico border counties was 2.2 per 100,000—double that of non-border counties (1.1). Males had higher mortality than females across all regions. Non-Hispanics and American Indian/Alaskan Native populations showed disproportionately higher mortality rates, particularly in border regions. The overall mortality risk in border regions was twice that of non-border areas (RR: 2.0).
Conclusion: Bacterial pneumonia mortality is significantly higher in the U.S.-Mexico border regions, with notable disparities across gender, race, and ethnicity. These findings suggest systemic healthcare access barriers and underinvestment in public health infrastructure in border communities. Targeted public health interventions addressing geographic and social determinants of health are critical to reducing pneumonia-related mortality in these vulnerable populations.
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