Association of community-level inequities and premature mortality: Chicago, 2011-2015.

BACKGROUND: Substantial disparities in life expectancy exist between Chicago's 77 defined community areas, ranging from approximately 69 to 85 years. Prior work in New York City and Boston has shown that community-level racial and economic segregation as measured by the Index of Concentration at the Extremes (ICE) is strongly related to premature mortality. This novel metric allows for the joint assessment of area-based income and racial polarisation. This study aimed to assess the relationships between racial and economic segregation and economic hardship with premature mortality in Chicago. METHODS: Annual age-adjusted premature mortality rates (deaths <65 years) from 2011 to 2015 were calculated for Chicago's 77 community areas. ICE measures for household income (