Socioeconomic position in childhood and adult cardiovascular mortality in 1971-98 in Finland - register-based follow-up study of a large sample from the 1950 census

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to analyse the relative importance of socioeconomic conditions in childhood and adulthood as predictors of cardiovascular mortality in adulthood. The study is based on a 10% sample of the 1950 Finnish census, linked individually to information from the censuses of 1970-95 and to deaths during 1971-98. Subjects aged 7-13 years living with their parents in 1950 were included. Parents occupational class in 1950 and the subjects own occupational class in 1970 were used as measures of socioeconomic position in childhood and adulthood. The main statistical method used was the Cox proportional hazards model. Socioeconomic conditions in childhood and adulthood were independent predictors of adult cardiovascular mortality in both sexes and of non-cardiovascular mortality among men. The effect of parents occupational class on mortality was systematic and graded. The results suggest that the impact of living conditions in childhood on adult mortality is not restricted to the effects of absolute poverty and undernutrition.