For many causes of death, mortality rates declined from 1971 to 1996 while rate differences—though not necessarily rate ratios—by income diminished. These causes included perinatal conditions, congenital anomalies, ischemic heart disease, infectious diseases other than AIDS, uterine cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, pedestrians hit by motor vehicles, and injuries except for motor vehicle accidents and suicide.

Other causes of death showed either little change in mortality or less inequality but higher ASMRs. These included lung cancer for males, breast cancer for females, and prostate cancer and suicide for males.

Finally, a few other causes of death showed increased mortality together with greater inequality by income. These included lung cancer for females, mental disorders, AIDS, and ill-defined conditions for both sexes.

Note that for a few causes of death, the usual gradient was inverted, with the highest mortality in the richest quintile. Such causes included breast cancer for women, prostate cancer for men, and motor vehicle occupants of both sexes.