Health Policy Manag.  2024 Sep;34(3):282-292. 10.4332/KJHPA.2024.34.3.282.

Relationship between Living Population and Regional Health Outcome: Focused on Seoul Metropolitan City

• Kang J
• Nam EW
• Won YJ
• Jang HS
• Lee KS

• KMID: 2562585
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2024.34.3.282

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to identify the relationship between regional health outcomes and the living population, which may reflect the characteristics of population migration in Seoul.
Methods
This study used raw data on cause of death statistics from Statistics Korea’s Micro Data Integration Service. To identify the independent variable, the living population, we used living population data provided by Korean Telecom for 25 districts of Seoul. The control variables were based on the four domains of SDoH (social determinants of health; economic stability, healthcare access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context). Panel generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis was used to determine the relationship between living population and regional health outcomes.
Results
The panel GEE analysis showed that all mortality-related health outcomes (avoidable, preventable, and treatable mortality) had a statistically significant negative relationship with the living population. This indicated that an increase in living population had a positive effect on mortality-related health outcomes.
Conclusion
The identification of a notable relationship between regional health outcomes and population density underscores the utility of incorporating living population metrics as key indicators in the development of policies aimed at mitigating health disparities. Moreover, this finding advocates for strategic expansions of local infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on areas characterized by low living populations.

Keyword

Health inequalities; Health outcome; Living population; Avoidable mortality; Preventable mortality; Treatable mortality