Exploring the 'Glasgow Effect' - Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester

This research programme involves a number of different projects, all aimed at gaining a better understanding of what lies behind the so-called ‘Glasgow Effect’, a term increasingly used in recent years to describe the poor health status of Glasgow over and above that attributable to the city’s high levels of socio-economic deprivation.

 

Stage 1

Glasgow Effect

The first stage (entirely quantitative in nature) explored the relationship between socio-economic circumstances and mortality in Glasgow and its two most similar and comparable post-industrial UK cities: Liverpool and Manchester. This showed that while the deprivation of profiles of the cities were almost identical, mortality in Glasgow was significantly higher (30% higher for premature deaths; 15% higher for deaths at all ages).

Download 'Investigating a Glasgow Effect'

Following publication of this report, a separate piece of work sought to summarise, and assess, the various explanations for Glasgow’s (and Scotland’s) poor health status. This is available here. 

 

Stage 2

The second phase of research incorporates a number of different projects. Details of some of these are included below.

  • Qualitative research
    This first phase of work above laid the foundation for a qualitative research project, which seeks to gain an in-depth understanding of why communities in Glasgow experience profoundly different health outcomes compared to very similar communities in Liverpool and Manchester. Nine communities across the three cities are the focus for this research, the results of which will be available in 2012. Further details are available on request.
  • Population survey
    A survey is being undertaken in the three cities, aimed at collecting comparable data for some of the potential explanations outlined in the above report. Initial results from the analyses of the survey should be available in 2012. Further details are available on request.
  • Spatial patterning of deprivation
    A project comparing the patterning of deprivation in the three cities, and its potential impact on mortality rates, is being undertaken for GCPH by Glasgow University. Results will be available in 2012.
  • Historical changes in deprivation
    A PhD studentship is being funded by GCPH to explore the extent to which historical changes in deprivation, and changes in city structure, in Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester may have impacted on health profiles. The PhD will run until 2015, and is based at the University of Glasgow.
  • Early years research
    GCPH is undertaking research based on the use of longitudinal cohort survey data (and other data sources) to assess the extent to which the early years experiences of residents of Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester may have differed in recent decades. Results will be available in 2012.

 

Other relevant work 

Systematic review of vitamin D and premature mortality 

The protocol for a systematic review of the literature currently under way is available here. It is made available here to avoid duplication of effort for any other research teams who might be considering a similar research question. The aim of the research is to determine whether there is evidence of an association between serum vitamin D and premature mortality, and the nature of any association. Any enquiries should be directed to Lynne Rush or David Walsh.