People in the most deprived parts of England are three times more likely to suffer “avoidable” deaths than those in the wealthiest.
Damning figures show “avoidable mortality” was 553 deaths per 100,000 men and 347 deaths per 100,000 women in the most deprived 10% of areas in 2018.
In the least deprived 10%, it plummeted to 152 for men and 102 for women, the Office for National Statistics said.
Avoidable deaths include those that could be prevented through public health work or swift treatment.
The figures feature heart and lung diseases, injuries, and drug or alcohol addiction.
Avoidable deaths accounted for nearly two-fifths of all male deaths in the most deprived areas of England - compared with less than one-fifth in the least deprived.
While avoidable deaths have fallen overall since 2001, the ONS said: “The rate of avoidable death in general reduced as deprivation lessened.”
It came as separate figures today showed 16 homeless people in England died with coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.
The victims - including six in London and three in the North West - had an average age of 58.
They died despite a major scheme moving thousands of rough sleepers off the streets and into temporary accommodation during the pandemic.
Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: “Every one of these deaths is a tragedy - behind these figures are individuals, each with families, hopes and dreams.
“The situation could have been much worse had the government, local councils and charities not worked to quickly move many people sleeping rough and in night shelters into hotels, providing safe, emergency accommodation.
"This undoubtedly saved lives. We must now build on this."
The separate statistics on avoidable deaths are published once a year and paint a grim picture of inequality.
They record "avoidable" deaths in people under the age of 75 measured by deprivation in the are where they live.
Avoidable causes include kidney failure, asthma, pneumonia, diabetes, a range of cancers, HIV/AIDS, measles, Legionnaires disease and meningitis.
Respiratory disease deaths were 6.9 times higher for men and 7.8 times higher for women in the most deprived areas, compared to the least deprived.
And deaths from circulatory diseases were 3.6 times higher for men and 4.4 times higher for women.
