Inequalities in the incidence of infectious disease in the North East of England: A population-based study

The objective of this study was to measure the association between deprivation and incidence of 21 infectious diseases in the North East of England (2007-2011). We used count regression models with the Index of Multiple Deprivation and population/landscape data for small areas (∼1500 persons). Deprivation significantly predicted incidence (P < 0·05) for 17 infectious diseases. The direction of association was broadly consistent within groups: increased incidence with increased deprivation for all three bloodborne viruses, 2/3 invasive bacterial diseases, 4/5 sexually transmitted infections (STI) and tuberculosis (TB); decreased incidence with increased deprivation for 5/6 infectious intestinal diseases (IID) and 2/3 vaccine-preventable diseases. Associations were removed for all but one IID (E. coli O157 infection) after accounting for recent foreign travel. Hepatitis C virus, TB and STI are priority infections for reduction of inequalities associated with deprivation in the North East of England.