BMJ  2007;334:963-964 (12 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39203.661829.BE

Editorials

Socioeconomic inequalities in health

Are important but the effects of age and sex may be overlooked

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Socioeconomic differences in health have been described since the 16th and 17th centuries,^{1 2} but only recently has reducing them been central to public health policy in many Western countries.³ Over the past three decades, epidemiological studies have confirmed the existence of socioeconomic inequalities in a range of health outcomes, including premature mortality, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, self reported ill health, and smoking related cancers, and have explored potential mechanisms linking lower socioeconomic position to poorer health.⁴ The Whitehall cohort studies have made important contributions to this literature.⁵

Several studies,^{6 7 8 9} including a publication from Whitehall II,¹⁰ have found that poorer socioeconomic position is associated with worse morbidity, mortality, and self reported health in older people. In this week's BMJ, a new analysis of data from Whitehall II by Chandola and colleagues examines the extent to which socioeconomic inequalities in self reported physical and mental health continue into older age.¹¹ The . . . [Full text of this article]

Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PR

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Social inequalities in self reported health in early old age: follow-up of prospective cohort study

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Guilley, E., Lalive d'Epinay, C. J. (2008). Social Status and Mortality With Activity of Daily Living Disability in Later Life. J. Gerontol. B Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci. 63: S192-S196 [Abstract] [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

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confusing title

Chic Pillai
bmj.com, 12 May 2007 [Full text]

Confusing? Or euphemistic?

Anthony E J Fitchett
bmj.com, 13 May 2007 [Full text]