Mapping deprivation to disease burden: spatial inequalities in premature NCD mortality in Hungary

Socioeconomic inequalities have been identified as a major determinant of noncommunicable disease (NCD) burden across Europe, yet their spatial distribution and magnitude at local level remain insufficiently characterised for policy action. High-resolution analyses are needed to better understand and address these inequalities. The Hungarian SPATIAL-EPI system incorporates a validated Deprivation Index at municipality level, based on seven socioeconomic indicators derived from census data (2001, 2011, 2022). The GIS-based platform facilitates the spatial mapping of deprivation and analysis of its association with premature mortality due to major NCDs. Municipalities are classified into deprivation quintiles, and associations with mortality are assessed using ecological analyses. These indicators are integrated into a national spatial health monitoring system to support data-driven decision-making. A consistent, statistically significant association can be observed between deprivation and premature mortality across the leading NCD groups. Municipalities in the highest deprivation quintile experience approximately twofold higher premature mortality rates compared to those in the least deprived quintile. This inequality gradient remained stable over the observed period (2007–2024), indicating persistent structural disparities in health outcomes. Spatial analysis revealed pronounced clustering of high-mortality, high-deprivation areas, enabling the identification of priority regions for interventions. The integration of deprivation indices into routine health monitoring provides a robust evidence base for addressing health inequalities. Spatially detailed data facilitates the identification of areas with high-risk populations, enabling targeted public health interventions. This approach, combined with decision-support tools such as interactive dashboards, strengthens municipal-level equity-oriented health planning and optimise prioritisation of prevention programmes.

Key messages

• Socioeconomic deprivation is strongly associated with higher premature NCD mortality, reflecting persistent health inequalities at local level.

• High-resolution spatial deprivation data provide essential evidence for targeted interventions and equitable, data driven interventions in public health.